Potential Enda Kenny successors ‘must go public with ambitions to replace Kenny’

The Fine Gael backbencher at the centre of stamped-out plans for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to resign has told potential successors to go public with their ambitions if they want a change of leader.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin told the Irish Examiner any fresh attempt to remove Mr Kenny now “requires” senior ministers seeking to replace him to express their real views, saying back benchers have done all they can to start the conversation.

Despite Mr Kenny being the subject of a planned motion of no confidence at the weekend, any plans for the motion to be tabled at Fine Gael’s parliamentary party meeting tomorrow were dashed yesterday after a string of senior Government ministers came out to back their party leader.