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# Under Pressure
'I'm focused on my job as leader of the country': Kenny refuses to say when he's stepping aside
The Taoiseach has been told he’ll face a motion of no confidence if he doesn’t outline a timeline for his departure.
THE TAOISEACH HAS refused to give any indication of when he may be stepping down, instead saying he’s focused on his job.
Enda Kenny is under pressure to name the date for his departure with his own TDs demanding he give a timeline.
But speaking at a press conference launching the north inner city task force report, the Fine Gael leader gave nothing away.
I’m focused on my job and my responsibility as leader of the country to continue in a very challenging time to deal with the preparations for what will be exceptionally difficult and challenging negotiations.
Fine Gael’s vice-chairman Pat Deering has threatened a motion of no confidence next week if Kenny has not announced a timeline for his departure as party leader.
Earlier this afternoon Kenny seemed to acknowledge he was under pressure when the chairman of the Finance Committee wished him well.
He told Kenny, “These are difficult times and I want to wish you well personally”. The Fine Gael leader simply responded, ”C’est la vie”.
It’s clear that there’ll be a host of Fine Gael TDs in a queue to replace Kenny when he does steps down.
Both Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney told their party colleagues they needed to prepare for an early election during a parliamentary party meeting last night.
While there has been speculation in the past that there could be a few Cabinet members interested in the job of Taoiseach, it really comes down to a two-horse race between Varadkar and Coveney.
With reporting by Christina Finn
Read: Kenny on the ropes as Fine Gael hopefuls line up to challenge him>
