‘I will not be diverted’ from Taoiseach role, says Enda Kenny

After a morning of public debate amongst Fine Gael TDs about the future of his leadership, Enda Kenny has insisted he will not be diverted from his position as Taoiseach.

Speaking in Co Mayo, Mr Kenny said he has been given the mandate by the people to serve as Taoiseach.

“I have no intention of being diverted from that work that I have undertaken and for which I have received a mandate to fulfil,” he said.

“That is my focus and my focus is entirely on the future. For those who might be interested I will not be diverted from that task and that duty and that responsibility which is the mandate given to me by the people.”

The Taoiseach’s comments come as Ministers rallied to his defence this morning following several calls from backbenchers for him to clarify a timetable for his departure.

Criticising backbenchers

Strongly criticising backbenchers who questioned Mr Kenny’s leadership, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Taoiseach should decide when it was appropriate to step down and no timetable should be imposed on him.

“I would suggest that my position represents the overwhelming majority in the Fine Gael party that the Taoiseach has made clear he will step down at what he considers to be the most appropriate time. It’s not desirable to have a timetable. The Taoiseach has every right to be given space,” Mr Harris said.

Asked about reports that backbench TDs will table a motion at Wednesday’s parliamentary party meeting, Mr Harris said it was very hard to comment on motions from un-named and anonymous sources: “We were only put back into Government two months ago. It seems a bit premature for TDs who walked through the lobby to vote for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach two months ago to be now suggesting he moved on.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said: “Now is not the time for change, now is not the time for instability. We need to work together.”

“The experience of Enda Kenny, the expertise of Enda Kenny, his contacts are all needed at this time.”

"This is new politics. New politics are different and bring new challenges," he told RTE's Today with Sean O'Rourke show.

Mistake

Earlier Minister for Education Richard Bruton said it was “a mistake” to raise the leadership issue.

“I believe very strongly that now is not the time to challenge the leadership of Enda Kenny. It is not in the country’s interests,” he said.

“Fine Gael has just taken on the responsibility of confronting huge challenges in housing, health and education. We are trying to make life better for people.

“We have just had the body blow of the British decision to exit the EU. We need Enda Kenny’s experience and his relationships in Europe to steer us through this very difficult time.

The Ministers’ defence of Mr Kenny’s leadership comes after a series of comments from backbench TDs which added to the pressure on the Taoiseach to indicate a timetable for his departure as party leader. The issue was first raised at last week’s parliamentary party meeting, and has been simmering since.

This morning Backbench Kerry TD Brendan Griffin said he believed there should be a change of leadership by September.

"Anything other than that would leave Fine Gael exposed," he said. "I do not trust Fianna Fáil and Micheál Martin to force an election on some issue on Budget preparations."

A number of other Fine Gael deputies including Pat Deering and Peter Fitzpatrick have called Mr Kenny to step down by the end of the year.

However, Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy said he does not want to see a vote of confidence in Mr Kenny, as mooted by both opponents and supporters of Mr Kenny.

Vote of confidence

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast he said, "I don't think it would achieve much. "I'm not known to be Enda's biggest fan, and he's not known to be my biggest fan, but he's the Taoiseach of the country. I'm of the opinion he should be given the opportunity to decide to exit when he chooses, we have to be respectful of the office of Taoiseach."

Mr D’Arcy said he was not asked about a confidence motion and believes Mr Kenny will still be Taoiseach in 2017.

Independent Minister of State Finian McGrath said the leadership of Fine Gael was not raised during the discussions on a coalition government, describing it as “none of our business.”

The Fine Gael parliamentary party meets on Wednesday evening, when many TDs say that the issue of the leadership will have to be discussed – one way or another.

His allies hope Mr Kenny’s comments on Monday, allied to the strong defence by his Ministers, will put the issue into abeyance for the present.

However, other party sources say the question of the leadership is now “out of the bottle”.

“Let me say this very clearly, my objective has always been to secure the future of our country,” the Taoiseach told an audience in Castlebar.

“That is what the people expect of their Taoiseach and of the leader of their Government and that is what Fine Gael people around the country expect of their leader and that is what I intend to deliver for them.”

Travel to Germany

Mr Kenny then outlined his busy schedule for this week. On Tuesday, he explained, he will travel to Germany to “discuss Ireland’s unique relationship with the UK.

“We have a major challenge up ahead,” the Taoiseach continued. “We are going to need support from other countries in explaining what it is that unique relationship is in terms of a common travel area, of a peace process with Northern Ireland, of access to UK trade and in terms also of our unique relationship with the European Union.”

Also this week, Mr Kenny added, he expects to discuss with Ministers the finalisation of the plans

for the North City Inner Task Force in Dublin and to put in place the terms of reference of the Citizens’ Assembly which he has committed to in terms of the review of the 8th Amendment.