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Members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party are bracing themselves for what now appears an inevitable leadership challenge to Enda Kenny.
Supporters of the leader insist they have the numbers to defeat a challenge, but backers of deputy leader Richard Bruton say they believe they can carry the day.
With just over 24 hours to go to the Fine Gael front bench meeting tomorrow intense pressure is now building on the leadership issue.
Some efforts to defuse the gulf between Enda Kenny and his deputy leader, Richard Bruton appear to have failed and both sides are now preparing for a showdown.
Whether it will come to a contest will depend on final head counts later today. Mr Kenny's supporters believe they have a commanding majority of support within the party.
Backers of Mr Bruton have so far declined to break cover publicly but they too claim there is a mood for change in the party.
With several members of the front bench having already declared publicly for Mr Kenny there is likely to be intense pressure today on Mr Bruton and his supporters to spell out their plans.