A former leader of Fine Gael has said that some members of the party need to “wise up” and stop calling on Enda Kenny to give a date for stepping down.

Alan Dukes’ comments follow reports that Enda Kenny could lead Fine Gael into the next election.

According to the Sunday Independent, the Taoiseach is planning to fight for a third term if the Government falls in the New Year.

Mr Dukes said it is folly for any leader to announce an intention to step down.

“Politicians should wise up on this,” he said.

“There are a couple of people in Fine Gael who come out and say ‘We want Enda to tell us when he’s going to go’, completely ignoring the fact that the moment a leader of any organisation says ‘I’m going to go on a certain date’, nobody listens to that person any more.”

Mr Dukes’ comments come after a Behaviour and Attitudes Poll in the Sunday Times giving Fine Gael 26% support. The public’s satisfaction with Enda Kenny is on 33%, up one point.