Fennelly Fallout: Cabinet closes ranks to defend Enda Kenny

Government ministers have closed ranks to defend Taoiseach Enda Kenny from growing opposition calls for his resignation, backing the Fine Gael leader’s claim the Fennelly report has cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Potential future party leaders Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald insisted yesterday the Taoiseach has been exonerated by the controversial report into the retirement of ex-Garda commissioner Martin Callinan.

Department of Finance junior minister Simon Harris also defended Mr Kenny’s position, while Labour’s Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin echoed Tánaiste Joan Burton’s view the Taoiseach has no questions to answer.