AS Pressure begins to mount on Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael leadership, Kerry TD Brendan Griffin is one of those who wishes to see a change in leader before the Dail resumes in September.

“Anything other than that would leave Fine Gael exposed,” said Brendan Griffin in a statement this morning.

“A change of leader before the Dail returns in September may be Fine Gael’s last chance of an orderly transition to new leadership before the next general election” he added. “I do not trust Fianna Fáil and Micheál Martin to force an election on some issue on Budget preparations,” said Deputy Griffin.

“The interests of Enda Kenny and Fine Gael are diverging and the party cannot go into the summer without confronting the leadership issue, which is the elephant in the room,” said Mid-Kerry based backbencher.

It is reported that behind Enda Kenny will drum up support from Fine Gael TDs and Senators this week and a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach could be tabled.

It is a move intended to quell a potential motion of no confidence from Fine Gael backbenchers calling for the party to decide a new leader.