Confidence motion must be respected, says Bruton

NO MORE heaves will take place against Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, his former deputy Richard Bruton said.

Mr Kenny had demonstrated resilience and the party’s decision to back him in a motion of confidence had to be respected, Mr Bruton said.

“Clearly Enda Kenny has won the confidence of the parliamentary party and that’s the test in this game. . . there will be no more heaves,” he said.

“It is a very difficult thing for a party. We are a family . . . sometimes issues arise in a family and they’ve been resolved in a very adult way.” Asked if he would be prepared to serve on Mr Kenny’s new front bench, Mr Bruton said: “That’s not a decision for today.”

Mr Bruton and Mr Kenny shook hands on the plinth outside Leinster House at the request of press photographers.

Charlie Flanagan, who said he would vote against Mr Kenny on Wednesday, said the matter had now been settled by a majority vote of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in a secret ballot.

“It was a very important meeting. It will be the making of Enda Kenny.

“Everybody should be behind him. The internal focus of the last few days, while difficult and dangerous, should immediately give way to the more important focus on the presentation of an alternative government and the removal of the discredited Fianna Fáil/Green administration,” Mr Flanagan said.

On Tuesday, nine frontbench members joined Mr Bruton in saying they no longer had confidence in Mr Kenny. They were: Simon Coveney; Brian Hayes; Olivia Mitchell; Fergus O’Dowd; Denis Naughten; Olwyn Enright; Leo Varadkar; Michael Creed; and Billy Timmins.

Mr Coveney, who described yesterday’s meeting as “tense”, said there was a particular responsibility on “people like me” to work harder than ever. The Cork South Central deputy said he did not expect to be “in favour” with Mr Kenny “any time soon”. His fate in terms of his role within Fine Gael would be determined by the leader. “We are all Fine Gael people now,” he added.

“I expressed the view that the party should and could move ahead under different leadership.

“The party hasn’t chosen that option and now of course I’m loyal to that decision.”

Mr Hayes, the party’s former education spokesman, said he did not expect Mr Kenny to reappoint him to the front bench. “I’ll play any role he wants me to in terms of healing wounds. Time is a great healer.” He added: “I was obviously disappointed but it’s Enda’s day. He won a great victory. Majority rules. Now we’re going to unite around the leader and he’s going to lead us to the next election.”

Olivia Mitchell said: “The decision’s been made and we have to move on now, that’s democracy. We just all have to do the best we can. Our main job is to get rid of this Government and we’re certainly all united on that,” Ms Mitchell said.

Mr O’Dowd said he was happy to accept the decision of the party. “The key point is that Enda decides who serves but he also did say that he would be magnanimous in victory and there would be no vindictiveness.” Mr Timmins said he had no comment, while Mr Naughten, Ms Enright, Mr Creed and Mr Varadkar could not be reached for comment.

Lucinda Creighton said: “Enda will lead the party into the next election. That decision has now been taken and I will support him fully and I certainly hope and believe that Enda Kenny will be taoiseach after the next election.”

Others who had declared they would vote against Mr Kenny included Kieran O’Donnell, Joe McHugh, Pat Breen and Senator Paschal Donohoe.