Enda Kenny will today come face-to-face with backbenchers who want him to quit as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader.

It was six years ago last month when Enda Kenny last faced down calls from his own Fine Gael colleagues to quit as party leader.

And, as on the previous occasion, the concern of some TDs is that the timing of another General Election cannot be predicted, and so Enda Kenny must be replaced.

However, when the Fine Gael parliamentary party meets today, and unlike the last occasion six years ago, there will not be any votes taken because the backbenchers who want him to step down have not tabled a motion of no confidence – and nor have Kenny, or any of his loyalists, tabled a motion explicitly backing him.

It seems the feeling within Fine Gael is that, just 60 days into the Government’s term, the party could do without a formal division pushing its members into one of two camps.

However, the meeting will give disgruntled backbenchers another chance to air their grievances about the leadership and Kenny the opportunity to shout them down, in person.