Fine Gael’s deputy leader says Enda Kenny acted “fairly and honourably” in how he handled the George Lee debacle.

Richard Bruton says he did have discussions with the former Dublin South TD.

George Lee quit the party and resigned his Dáil seat yesterday, saying he had no input or influence on policy in the party.

Enda Kenny told Lunchtime with Eamon Keane that the front bench position he offered George Lee last week was a new portfolio dealing with the co-ordination of economic policy, but George Lee told him he was “drained”.

Speaking to Moncreiff this afternoon, Richard Bruton said perhaps George had different expectations of his role in the Dáil.

“The reality of opposition life is much tougher grind” he said.

“It is about marking the government, about reacting to what the government does; we can’t change things instantaneously”.

“We have to work on developing policy – it’s slow, patient, grinding”.

“But…it is important because it gives you an alternative platform that people can believe in” he added.