LATEST: Leadership contenders express relief at party meeting outcome

Latest: Speaking after the meeting, Minister for Housing Simon Coveney said Mr Kenny had shown an authority that would hopefully deliver a process and a transition that would be well managed that would keep the party together and the Government together, writes Juno McEnroe and Daniel McConnell.

• Fine Gael party members met at 5.30pm today to hear from Taoiseach about his departure from office