Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin insists he does not feel his position as leader of the party is under threat "in any shape or form".
"I do not in any shape or form feel under threat. I do acknowledge the extraordinary pressure ... on families and people across the country in terms of the impact of rising oil prices as a result of the war in the Middle East".
Mr Martin stated that the Government were faced with a difficult dilemma last week regarding likely critical infrastructure being blockaded. He add that they have an "obligation to our people and to the State" to ensure these blockades were discontinued in the middle of this supply crisis.
"As an exporting country, we had to lift the blockades", the Taoiseach said.
Mr Martin went on to say that the Government can "evaluate" concerns about the language used during this crisis and how people "perceived how the Government was approaching that".
The Fianna Fáil leader added that there were "different strands" to these protests last week, leaving the Government surprised by the nature and scale of these demonstrations, and insists that there were "many genuine people" involved and they were under pressure.
Earlier this week, Fianna Fáil TD, Malcolm Byrne stated that the Taoiseach could have shown "more empathy" amid the fuel price protests.
"I think, in terms of the tone from, and I certainly don't personalise it, but the Taoiseach and some of the ministers, I think it could have been a case of more empathy being shown and more understanding, because I do know that they get it", Mr Byrne said earlier this week. "We got certain things wrong in terms of our approach last week".
This also comes as three Fianna Fáil TDs, Albert Dolan, Ryan O'Meara and James O'Connor, released a statement saying "the social contract was strained to breaking point". They said that it should not require a protest for the government to act.
However, Government ministers Jack Chambers and Darragh O'Brien have supported the Taoiseach.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien has said that he has "100% confidence" in Mr Martin's leadership of Fianna Fáil.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Chambers has insisted there is still "widespread support for Micheál Martin as leader and as Taoiseach of our country", adding that recent fractures within the party are "not at all" building up to a heave against Mr Martin.
