FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has said he wants his former deputy leader Richard Bruton to return to the Fine Gael front bench.
In his first public confirmation that he is willing to reinstate Mr Bruton, Mr Kenny declined to say what role he was considering for his former finance spokesman, whom he sacked last Monday after he failed to express confidence in his leader.
Several senior figures in the party said yesterday that Mr Bruton would not be offered the finance post. Former leader Michael Noonan, a certainty to return to the front bench, is now seen as the favourite to take on that portfolio. He and Mr Kenny have spoken about the matter since last Thursday’s meeting.
Mr Kenny was interviewed over the weekend from his home in Castlebar, Co Mayo, by RTÉ's The Week in Politics.
When asked did he want Mr Bruton on his front bench, he replied: “Yes”. When pressed over what position, he said: “I will not comment on any individual appointments.It’s only fair to everybody. If they feel they have a contribution to make to a new front bench for Fine Gael I’ll consider all of those opportunities.”
Senior TDs in the party, including Mr Noonan, have said that including Mr Bruton in the frontbench team of 19 would help heal divisions caused by last week’s events.
Mr Bruton has made no public comments about his own intentions following his unsuccessful leadership challenge. He was unavailable for comment yesterday.
A Fine Gael spokesman said Mr Kenny would begin contacting colleagues to discuss his frontbench appointments tomorrow. He is leading a Fine Gael delegation to Belfast today.
A number of Mr Kenny’s supporters expressed the view yesterday that only three, or possibly four, of the 11 frontbench TDs who expressed no confidence in Mr Kenny would be readmitted to the team.
There were mixed views among different supporters.
Besides Mr Bruton, the Dublin West TD Leo Varadkar is seen as the most likely to be invited back, notwithstanding his comments last week that he would not serve on the front bench with Mr Kenny as leader.
When contacted, Mr Varadkar left open the possibility of a return: “I am thinking a lot about what I want to do and my future. I would be happy to talk to Enda Kenny if he still wishes to talk to me.”
Other “dissenters” who were mentioned as being in line for a possible reprieve were Olwyn Enright, Fergus O’Dowd, Charlie Flanagan, and Brian Hayes.
There was a consensus among Mr Kenny’s supporters, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, that four at most of the dissenters, including Mr Bruton, would be invited back into the fold.
On that basis it is probable that Mr Kenny will fire Billy Timmins, Denis Naughten, Simon Coveney, Olivia Mitchell, Michael Creed and at least two others.
Besides Mr Noonan, backbench deputies who have been mentioned for promotion include Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim); John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim); Joe Carey (Clare); Shane McEntee (Meath East); Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central); and David Stanton (Cork East).
Paul Kehoe has indicated to Mr Kenny that he wishes to remain as the party whip, but may be promoted if Fine Gael return to government. His good relationship with the backbench TDs and Senators was seen as instrumental in Mr Kenny’s campaign.
Phil Hogan and Dr James Reilly are seen as the favourites for the deputy leader position, while Alan Shatter is being mentioned for the justice post.
Mr Shatter said that stability had returned to the party. “Enda Kenny’s leadership is not at risk in any shape or form. Our focus is to get the Government out of office as quickly as possible.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said that the events in Fine Gael over the past week were an “internal party matter that has been dealt with by that party”.