Mix of support and criticism for Kenny at party meeting

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny was criticised by a small number of TDs and Senators over his style of leadership at last night’s…

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny was criticised by a small number of TDs and Senators over his style of leadership at last night’s parliamentary party meeting, which continued for more than five hours and finished just after midnight.

In a statement issued afterwawrds, the chairman of the parliamentary party Tom Hayes said:"The meeting fully endorsed and supported the leadership of Endak Kenny."

On the issue of George Lee's resignation, he said: "The meeting wished him well in the future."

Mr Hayes told reporters that Mr Kenny had received a "unanimous" endorsement and a standing ovation.

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While deputies were supportive of Mr Kenny continuing as leader, the mood of the meeting was described as low key, mixed and “deflated”. A succession of speakers said no blame attached to Mr Kenny for George Lee’s resignation as a TD though some made negative comments about recent media interviews by the leader.

According to one TD, more than one speaker said they were “getting it on the doors that Mr Kenny was not up to the job”. There were also complaints that backbenchers were being frozen out by the leadership.

Speakers who were described as slightly critical included Lucinda Creighton, Damien English and Kilkenny Senator John Paul Phelan.

Earlier, Fine Gael frontbench spokesman Simon Coveney earlier suggested there was a degree of conditionality to Enda Kenny’s leadership by saying there would be “obvious consequences” if he did not improve his performance.

“He doesn’t always lead from the front. He allows his articulate, talented people often to speak for the party. But that different style of leadership, which isn’t about ego, is something that I think will appeal to people in time. That’s the challenge for Enda. He needs to step up to that mark and if he can’t achieve it, well then there are the obvious consequences of that,” he told RTÉ’s News at One.

The Fine Gael energy spokesman later moved to qualify the comments.

Speaking prior to last night’s parliamentary party meeting, Mr Coveney argued that some had taken “poetic licence” to interpret his remarks as a challenge to the leadership of Mr Kenny.

“I stated the obvious, and the obvious is, if a political leader cannot meet the challenges and the aspirations of a party, well then the consequences are very predictable, but I think that Enda can meet those challenges.”

Separately, The Irish Times has confirmed that two front-bench members and five or six TDs and Senators took “informal soundings” from some colleagues on Monday to ascertain the level of backing for deputy leader Richard Bruton as leader.

Phone calls and contacts were made by supporters of Mr Bruton but no contact was made with the deputy leader. A TD who took part in contacts said the timing was not right but predicted that a heave against the leadership could take place “within months” if support for the party trended down in opinion polls.