The Fine Gael leader has dissolved his frontbench ahead of a confidence motion in him on Thursday.
During a short meeting at Leinster House this morning Enda Kenny spoke about the virtues of loyalty and advised his opponents that he would appoint a new front bench next week.
He also told supporters of his challenger Richard Bruton that a small group of people would not decide who leads the party.
Speaking at Leinster House Kenny supporter Phil Hogan suggested that Deputy Bruton had the knives out for his party leader for some time.
“Well I think it’s obvious over the last 3 or 4 months that these issues were being discussed in private without the knowledge of the leader” he said.
“It’s clear that the performances of some of the members of the frontbench would lead you to believe that they were listening, fully engaged in their responsibility as frontbench members – and Enda has to reflect on that when he’s picking his new frontbench next week after he’s…re-elected as leader on Thursday” he added.
Those in the Bruton camp say there numbers include most of the Fine Gael frontbench and the wider parliamentary party membership.
Addressing the media at Leinster House Denis Naughton TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim said the majority of the frontbench no longer supports Enda Kenny and wanted at their meeting this morning to ask him to withdraw the motion of confidence he has tabled in himself this Thursday and step down as leader in the interest of the party.
However Deputy Naughten said Mr. Kenny “shut down” the meeting without giving the frontbench the opportunity to express their views.
“The majority of the frontbench I have to sadly say isn’t supportive of the party leader – and we believe that that is replicated throughout the parliamentary party” he said.
“If we had the opportunity this morning to speak to Enda we would have asked him to withdraw the motion of confidence, to consider his position and step down as party leader in the interest of the party” he added.
