Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today insisted that he will not be stepping down as Fine Gael leader until another General Election is called.

Speaking in Castlebar today, he said that he intends to lead the Government for as long as its term lasts.

“I’ve always said that my intention would be to serve the full term but not to lead the party into the next General Election,” he said.

“I’ve made that perfectly clear and that’s where I am, but I have a lot of work to do in the meantime.”

Some of the highest-profile members of the party, including Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Frances Fitzgerald, are seen as potential party leaders in the event Mr Kenny steps aside.

Update 4.56pm: it was also revealed today that the Taoiseach will not be unveiling his Junior Ministers tomorrow after all.

It had been hoped that he would make an announcement after the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

However, instead he will be travelling to Washington DC for 1916 commemorations and will announce the Ministers of State line-up when he returns.