Fine Gael Ministers had fallback plan to replace Enda Kenny

Fine Gael Ministers have discussed a contingency plan to carry out a rapid leadership contest to replace Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the event of a snap general election.

Ministers and party officials discussed the plan during the government formation process, as a fallback for the talks failing as Mr Kenny had said he would not lead Fine Gael into another election.

Senior party sources last night said the outline of the contingency plan, which was never formally agreed, still applied because of the threat that Fianna Fáil could collapse the minority Government at any time.

“Fianna Fáil think they can pull it down and cause an election without us having a leader. They can’t,” a source said.

Mr Kenny’s leadership came under renewed pressure this week with a view emerging in Fine Gael that he should be afforded the opportunity to stand aside of his own accord after October’s budget.

Ministers Frances Fitzgerald, Paschal Donohoe, Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney yesterday backed the Taoiseach and insisted there was no leadership vacancy. After initially calling on Mr Kenny to clarify the process for his stepping aside, Chief Whip Regina Doherty later said he had her "full support and backing" .

Fine Gael rules stipulate a leadership contest can take up to 20 days, with hustings and votes by councillors and members. The Irish Times understands two options to speed this up were discussed with at least some of the Ministers seen as prospective leaders.

One was holding a special party conference, attended by the elected officials and rank-and-file members, over a weekend, while the other involved restricting the vote to TDs, Senators and MEPs and presenting their choice to members. All candidates would have to support the chosen process.

Under party rules, the leadership is decided by an electoral college which gives parliamentarians 65 per cent of the votes, ordinary members 25 per cent and councillors 10 per cent.