'If Kenny has a long goodbye it could damage Varadkar'

The Taoiseach has put the pretenders back in their box, but they are wasting no time organising and preparing

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney – one of them is likely to be new FG leader Picture: Collins

Last week, Enda Kenny promised Fine Gael it would have clarity about his future “very shortly” after he returns from his St Patrick’s Day trip to the US. Many took this to mean that the Taoiseach will be gone sometime in April.

But there is absolutely nothing now stopping Kenny from indicating that he will resign as late as May or, as one Fine Gael minister said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if this ...