Fine Gael’s Noel Rock was first out this week to call upon Enda Kenny to set out a timeline for stepping down and subsequent events have shown that he wasn’t too early in his calls on the Taoiseach.

However, speaking on this week’s Floating Voter, Rock has denied that Leo Varadkar was behind his outspoken views.

“No not at all,” said Rock. “The situation was becoming increasingly unsustainable and it was clear we needed a new leader.”

“I’ve told the Taoiseach why I said what I said. We shouldn’t have blind, unquestioning loyalty to anybody. I’m sure the message was received loud and clear and now there’s a queue of people making the same call but more need to come out and say it for the public record. We need a timeline in the next two weeks.”