Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney are attempting to calm Fine Gael backbenchers who want to rapidly remove Taoiseach Enda Kenny as party leader.
This comes as the Independent Alliance Ministers seek further clarity from Mr Kenny on his knowledge of the Garda whistleblower controversy and the Tusla link to the alleged smear campaign against Garda Sgt Maurice McCabe.
As concern about Mr Kenny’s performance has spread, Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, the two frontrunners to succeed him as Fine Gael leader, have spent recent days attempting to assuage the worries of members of the parliamentary party ahead of a meeting on Wednesday night.
At least one TD said he wanted the leadership issue tackled this week, but the vast majority of the party want to wait until the Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in the Government is defeated this week.
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A large number of Ministers and TDs believe it is up to both Mr Coveney and Mr Varadkar to go to Mr Kenny together and deliver such a message.
Step aside
Sources close to both Ministers, however, say that is extremely unlikely and it is still hoped that Mr Kenny will step aside of his own accord soon.
A senior Independent Alliance figure said the group’s main interest is that “Fine Gael sorts out its own problems”, a reference to the party leadership.
A special Cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday as Mr Kenny on Tuesday cast further doubt over his knowledge of the Tusla file on Sgt McCabe.
This file contained false allegations of child sexual assault against Sgt McCabe.
The Irish Times understands that the Independent Alliance was to publicly declare its support for the Government and Mr Kenny on Tuesday until a number of differences between he and Minister for Children Katherine Zappone again emerged.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil he had given inaccurate information about his discussions with Ms Zappone.
He had claimed he had spoken to the Minister prior to her meeting with the McCabe family but on Tuesday confirmed this was not true.
Mr Kenny told the Dáil: “And I might say mea culpa here, because I did say, and I’m guilty here of not giving accurate information.”
The Taoiseach also admitted he was informed by Ms Zappone of the Tusla link before a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday of last week, something he had not detailed previously.
Ms Zappone claimed the Taoiseach informed her the agency would be included in the terms of reference for the commission of investigation.
However, he had insisted he only became aware of the issue late on last Thursday evening.
Further clarifications
Minister for Transport Shane Ross and Minister of State at the Department of Health Finian McGrath are now seeking further clarifications from Mr Kenny.
One senior Government figure admitted: “This is back on shaky territory again.”
A tribunal of inquiry will now be held into the campaign levelled against Mr McCabe.
The Cabinet will also have to agree a position on the motion of no confidence tabled by Sinn Féin after no agreement was reached at Tuesday’s meeting.
Fianna Fáil has confirmed it will abstain as per the confidence and supply agreement with the Fine Gael party.
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