THE FF ELECTION POSTER

IT was the moment when Enda Kenny looked like a goner – nine Fine Gael frontbenchers emerging for the cameras to say he was no longer a credible alternative to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

And even though Mr Kenny faced down his opponents and pulled off a remarkable victory yesterday, this picture has offered Fianna Fáil its best election poster in years.

Richard Bruton pledged last night that there would be “no more heaves” following his botched attempt to oust Mr Kenny.

But Fine Gael members admitted that events of recent days had damaged the party and undermined Mr Kenny’s leadership.

He now has to find a way to overcome the damage to his credibility by more than half his frontbenchers joining Mr Bruton in expressing no confidence in him.

Those TDs had criticised Mr Kenny’s grasp of economic issues and insisted Mr Bruton would be a safer and better option in the event of another financial crisis.

But Mr Kenny insisted that such devastating criticisms by his own colleagues would not affect his public standing. “The point was made by a number of speakers that the Taoiseach of the day doesn’t have to have the minute detail of every single department. We have a very strong economic team and expertise in our party.”

Mr Kenny was speaking after winning the vote of confidence in his leadership at a lengthy meeting of the 70-strong Fine Gael parliamentary party.

The meeting started yesterday at 11.30am and concluded following a secret ballot circa 4.30pm, with 36 votes the target to reach.

Fine Gael announced that Mr Kenny had won, but did not disclose by how many votes and subsequently destroyed the ballot papers. However, Fine Gael sources suggested Mr Kenny had won by a margin of six, on 38 votes to 32.

He emerged flanked by the members of the parliamentary party to a press conference on the plinth of Leinster House shortly after 5pm, and admitted: “I’m glad that it’s over.”

Mr Kenny said he felt both thrilled and relieved by the result, adding: “It is not easy at the top table with 69 of your colleagues who are your jurors in this matter by secret ballot.”

He offered an olive branch to his vanquished opponents, some of whom have already said they would not serve in another frontbench under Mr Kenny.

“I made it perfectly clear during my contribution (to the meeting), as I have done before this vote took place, that all the members of our parliamentary party, with their talents and their experience, will be offered an opportunity to have their role and that contribution recognised.”

He insisted he could heal any wounds that the heave caused similar to the way he restored the party to health following the disastrous 2002 general election.

“My record has been one of proven inclusiveness in binding up wounds before; I intend to do that again.”

He also insisted his relationship with Richard Bruton “is not broken by this”, and the two men shook hands at the instigation of photographers.

But Mr Kenny refused to say whether he would consider appointing Mr Bruton to his new frontbench, which he said he would take some time to consult and reflect upon.

“For me, this is the end of any of the tensions that may have been building in respect of Fine Gael,” Mr Kenny said.

“We move on from here as a completely united party even though we had a vote on this issue.

“And our priority now is to have a general election as soon as possible, to have our party move forward (and) address the issues and the concerns and the anxieties that affect the Irish people in a country that is almost bankrupt with a Government that has lost touch.”