The Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said if Enda Kenny announces a timeline for his resignation as Fine Gael leader his authority as Taoiseach will be undermined.

Yesterday, the Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty said members of Fine Gael and the Government would be better able to get on with their jobs if a timeline for Kenny’s resignation was set out.

A poll in yesterday’s Irish Times pointed to Varadkar as the public’s favourite to take over the position of Fine Gael leader.

However Minister Varadkar has said there’s no vacancy yet and the Taoiseach should not declare his resignation too far in advance of stepping down.

“The vacancy should only arise when the Taoiseach says it does, when he decides it’s the right time,” said Varadkar.

“Talking about a timeline or something like that is probably unhelpful and we’ve seen in other countries where a prime minister has set a timeline, effectively they lose their authority.

“A Taoiseach without authority, is no Taoiseach at all – and of course then you end up with a leadership contest that goes on for months and months and I don’t think anybody wants that at all.”