Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected, in the coming days, to set out his intention to resign as Fine Gael leader in an attempt to defuse growing impatience among party TDs who have threatened to challenge his position next week.
Senior Fine Gael Ministers believe that Mr Kenny, on the advice of allies, will issue a statement saying he will resign as leader in the coming weeks.
One Minister, seen as close to Mr Kenny, said the Taoiseach would put his own supporters, who want to see him step down with dignity, in an awkward position if he does not clearly outline of his intentions.
“We could be on a collision course here that nobody wants to take,” the Minister said. “He just has to say something this is not going to go away. The only option is to put a structure on it. Most people want to support him if he does the right thing. But if he says nothing, it puts us in a very difficult position.”
The Taoiseach and leader of our party is not being shown the respect his service and his office deserve
Mr Kenny will consult with family and friends in Mayo this weekend about his future after a week in which the minority Government survived a confidence vote in the Dáil but his leadership was repeatedly questioned over the handling of the case of Garda whisteblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Significantly, none of the Fine Gael TDs or Ministers contacted by The Irish Times yesterday reported any efforts to shore up support for Mr Kenny in the party.
Public utterances
Martin Heydon, chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, sent an email to TDs and Senators last night asking, in the interests of the party, that people "refrain from making further public utterances about our party leader".
He said he was “greatly concerned that the Taoiseach and leader of our party is not being shown the respect his service and his office deserve. Any comments should be kept for next week’s parliamentary party meeting.”
Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell yesterday became the latest to say publicly that he had no longer confidence in Mr Kenny as leader. Backbench TD Pat Deering had already threatened to table a motion of no confidence at next week’s parliamentary party meeting if Mr Kenny does not clarify his plans.
Supporters of Mr Kenny claim that dissident TDs will not follow through on their threat of such a motion. However, it is believed such a motion would have the required support of five members of the parliamentary party – TDs, Senators and MEPs – to be heard.
Clear divisions have emerged between the two main challengers to succeed Mr Kenny as to the manner and timing of his departure.
Keen to push
Supporters of Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney both set out markedly different approaches to what they expect of Mr Kenny when he indicates as to how long he intends to remain as Taoiseach. Mr Varadkar's supporters are seen as the more keen to push the issue and less willing to indulge a tapering period of 12 weeks, which has been mooted.
“Twelve weeks is too long and would mean that he would open the negotiations on Brexit,” one Varadkar supporter said. “It would be too uncertain.”
A source close to Mr Coveney said he was not willing to “put a gun to Enda Kenny’s head”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe both ruled themselves out of any leadership contest yesterday.
