Enda Kenny planning to contest next General Election
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stated his intention to contest the next General Election, .
He made the announcement to supporters in Castlebar at the weekend.
His apparent u-turn on a decision to retire follows reports that the Taoiseach’s local Fine Gael branch in Castlebar had established a committee to strategise for his departure.
However, on Sunday evening, at the annual meeting of the Mayo Constituency organisation, Mr Kenny made it clear he wants to stand again.
Mr Kenny's constituency colleagues, Junior Minister Michael Ring and Senator Michelle Mulherin were also at the meeting.
Until now, Mr Kenny has only said he will not contest the next election as Fine Gael leader but this is the first indication he has given that he intends to return to the Dáil after the next national vote.
It had been reported locally on Sunday that the Fine Gael Castlebar district organisation set up a committee to decide on a candidate to replace Mr Kenny.
Mr Kenny's daughter Aoibhinn is seen as the favourite given her flirtation with student politics in Trinity College Dublin.
However, a local Fine Gael source later clarified the committee was set up to deal with local elections in three years’ time.
Fine Gael has been riddled with speculation as to when Mr Kenny will step down, and he recently revealed he plans to stay in place for at least two more budgets.
Fine Gael rebels are anxious to see Mr Kenny step down as soon as possible and have indicated they will put a down motion of no confidence before the parliamentary party after the Budget.
Waterford TD John Deasy recently speculated that he would be gone early in the New Year.
