Taoiseach to serve full term if re-elected, predicts Sports Minister Michael Ring

Sports Minister Michael Ring has re-ignited the debate over when Taoiseach Enda Kenny will step down, saying his leader will serve a “full term” if Fine Gael returns to power.

Mr Kenny’s constituency colleague made the prediction as he warned ambitious ministers they are wrong to position themselves as future leaders before an election and should wait “10 or 15 years’ time or whenever it is we’re looking for a party leader again”.

A political crisis erupted within government circles last summer after chief whip and Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe told the Irish Examiner the Taoiseach “will serve another five years and more”.