ONE of the frontrunners to replace Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader has said there will be no snap election in the Republic.
Reacting to British Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to hold a snap election in the UK, Leo Varadkar said the poll will not have a major impact on the Republic.
But he warned that the election announcement should encourage the north's parties to "redouble their efforts to put together an administration before they go out campaigning in the Westminster elections".
Mr Varadkar ruled out another Irish general election after Enda Kenny stands down as Taoiseach and leader of his party.
"We’re in a very different situation as well where we’ve entered a partnership with Independents," he said.
"I think it would be wrong for the new leader of Fine Gael to pull the rug out from under people we've made a partnership with. I wouldn't anticipate an early general election in Ireland."
Mr Kenny is expected to remain as Taoiseach until May.
But there is speculation he could stay on until June when the primary principles of EU negotiations with the UK over Brexit are expected to be set.
