Kenny dismisses speculation he will take up senior EU post

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has emphatically ruled out taking any senior EU post and has pledged to lead Fine Gael into the next election.

Speaking to political correspondents, Mr Kenny said he would be flattered to be considered for an EU position but it would not interest him.

“It is my honour and my privilege to be given the largest majority in the history of the State to sort out public finances and get our people back to work. That’s my ambition to fulfil that mandate and I fully expect, if the Lord spares me, to lead Fine Gael into the next election and lead them in very strongly,” said Mr Kenny.

There has been speculation that Mr Kenny might be in the running for the position of president of the European Council currently held by Herman Van Rompuy or the presidency of the Commission which currently held by Jose Manuel Barroso.

The term of office of both men will expire next year and it is expected that the decision on who should succeed them will be in the hands of the European Peoples’ Party of which Mr Kenny is a member.