Fitzgerald testing waters for leadership bid

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is asking her colleagues for views on whether she should bid to succeed Enda Kenny as leader of Fine Gael, The Irish Times reports.

According to the newspaper, she began canvassing Fine Gael TDs this week.

She will require eight nominations from Fine Gael TDs, Senators or MEPs in order to stand in the leadership contest which Mr Kenny is expected to call on his return from the US.

Sources have said Ms Fitzgerald is going “from office to office” and seeking support simply to appear on the ballot.

A party figure said: “She is looking for support to put her name down, but she did not ask for an actual vote. I think she is making it out that anyone who wants to run should be allowed to run.”

The contest is widely seen as a race between Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney.