Enda Kenny’s supporters plan pre-emptive vote of confidence

Close supporters of Taoiseach Enda Kenny are considering tabling a motion of confidence in his leadership to the party's TDs and Senators this week.

The move is designed to counteract the prospect of a written motion of no confidence from disaffected backbenchers calling for the party to begin a process choosing Mr Kenny’s successor.

Two senior Ministers separately confirmed to The Irish Times that the motion might be put before the parliamentary party on Wednesday. One said it would put a stop to internal tensions.

A number of Fine Gael deputies including Brendan Griffin, Pat Deering and Peter Fitzpatrick have called Mr Kenny to step down by the end of the year, while others, including Jim Daly, Fergus O'Dowd and Michael Darcy, have said they want the leadership and succession question to be "clarified" relatively soon after the October budget.

One deputy confirmed to The Irish Times yesterday a written no confidence motion has been drafted and others are aware of it.

However, all TDs contacted yesterday insisted there was no group working with the express aim of forcing the issue.

‘Overwhelmingly supported’

Senior party figures said they were sufficiently wary to consider a pre-emptive response: “We are moving towards a motion of confidence that would draw a line under all the internal wrangling of the past week,” said a senior source. “We believe it will be overwhelmingly supported. There is expectation that something will happen by way of a motion challenging his leadership.

“The flip side that there would be a proactive motion on the part of the Taoiseach that would bring this issue to an end and allow us to move on.”

‘Show of weakness’

However, there are divided views among Ministers as to the implications of such a motion.

One expressed caution: “Tabling a motion of confidence would be silly. It would pass but would be a real show of weakness.”

Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar said yesterday that there was no vacancy and pointed to the Government having other priorities.

"I do no think it's a good idea that any Taoiseach gives a timetable of departure. Look at David Cameron saying he is going in a few months and he has no authority," he told RTÉ.

Mr Varadkar also made strong criticism of the Independent Alliance Ministers, claiming their decision not to heed the Attorney General’s advice on Mick Wallace’s fatal foetal abnormalities Bill had destabilised the Government.

Independent Minister of State John Halligan said Mr Kenny's internal Fine Gael critics had destabilised the Government more.

Six Fine Gael TDs have publicly demanded either a change of leadership, or called for “clarity” on the succession process.

However, it is evident from soundings of a representative group of TDs the majority of the party would back Mr Kenny.

Many echoed the views of Kate O’Connell, who said the overriding immediate issue was Brexit, and not internal “Fine Gael agitation”.

But Wexford TD Michael Darcy said yesterday if Enda Kenny clarified his intentions it would be helpful; Louth deputy Fergus O'Dowd echoed these sentiments. Jim Daly, TD for Cork South West, said: "The conversation on leadership will have to be had but post the budget."