Kenny sees off Seanad debacle backlash

The Taoiseach has seen off any major backlash over his handling of Fine Gael’s nomination process for the Seanad by-election after backbenchers were told to keep their focus on economic recovery.

Enda Kenny is still refusing to name the Fine Gael official who he blames for the botched handling of the issue, despite being asked to do so at a meeting last night of the parliamentary party.

He told the Dáil earlier that “the official dealing with this” did not “get back” to the party’s sub-committee charged with handling the Seanad nomination.