Taoiseach to face showdown with backbenchers

But there will be no votes taken at today's meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party.

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, just like last time, the concern of some TDs is that the timing of another general election cannot be predicted – and so Enda Kenny must be disposed of now.

But when the Fine Gael parliamentary party meets today, unlike the last occasion six years ago, there will NOT be any votes taken.

That's because the backbenchers who want him to step down have not tabled any motion of no confidence – and nor have Kenny, or any of his loyalists, tabled a motion explicitly backing him.

The idea is that just 60 days into the government's term, the party could do without a formal division that pushes its members into one of two camps.

But the meeting will give those backbenchers another chance to air their grievances about the leadership – and for Kenny to attempt to shout them down, in person.