Politics

Enda Kenny 'to address leadership on May 17'

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to address his leadership next week. File picture by Niall Carson, Press Association
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to address his leadership next week. File picture by Niall Carson, Press Association Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to address his leadership next week. File picture by Niall Carson, Press Association

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has said he will address the issue of his leadership at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting next Wednesday.

The Mayo TD has already made clear he will not lead his party into the next general election.

He had said he would deal with his future after he visited the US for the St Patrick's Day celebrations, and later indicated he would address the question after the April 29 European Council meeting.

Following months of speculation, he told the Fine Gael parliamentary party yesterday that he will tackle uncertainty around his leadership at their next meeting.

There remains speculation he could stay on until June, when negotiations about the UK's exit from the European Union are due to start.

The EU's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, is to make a rare address to a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad today, when he will deliver a speech on his priorities for the negotiations.

Although the Fine Gael leadership contest has not officially begun, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney are considered the frontrunners.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald indicated in March that she might also stand for the leadership.