Enda Kenny says his intention to hold general election in spring 2016

Many within Fine Gael including former Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan have openly called on Enda Kenny to call a snap election after Tuesday’s budget.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today confirmed his intention to hold a General Election in spring of next year.

The leader of Fine Gael, the largest party in a coalition government which has lasted since a landslide victory in 2011, has been under mounting pressure to set a date amid speculation a poll could have been ordered as early as next month. Asked whether he might change my mind, he repeated that he saw no reason to do so.

Kenny added that it was important that Fine Gael had agreed to an electoral pact with Labour, saying the parties had worked well together in coalition, despite having to make “difficult choices” about the economy.

But the Taoiseach scotched the rumours and told broadcaster RTE he had been consistently aiming for an election next year. “Yes we will have different programmes”.

He said: “The Taoiseach has only himself to blame for the political uncertainty created on the timing of the election”. Ciarán Lynch, a Labour TD and the inquiry’s chairman, and Michael McGrath, the Fianna Fail TD, both took to the airwaves to warn that the inquiry would fall if the election were to be held in November.

“It’s clear from the Taoiseach’s comments today that the election will be next year”.

If Mr Kenny decides to go to the country before the Banking Inquiry issues it’s report, it will collapse.