Kildare TD informs party members to attend crucial Fine Gael meeting

Speculation is mounting that An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will announce later this evening that he is to step down as the leader of the Fine Gael party.

The Mayo native has called for a meeting to be brought forward from 5.30pm to 4.30pm, and Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon, who is the party chairman, has informed the rest of his colleagues via email about the change of time for this evening's meeting.

Mr Kenny has asked for all TDs and senators to attend the meeting in Leinster House.

"The Taoiseach has requested that we bring this evening's parliamentary party meeting forward to 4.30pm," read the email.

It is believed that Mr Kenny will announce his decision to resign at the meeting today, which will spark a leadership battle between ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney to replace Fine Gael's longest ever serving Taoiseach.