A senior Fine Gael minister says a discussion about replacing Enda Kenny needs to happen "sooner rather than later".

Simon Coveney's comments come as the party's chairman says a succession plan is needed to ensure stability when Kenny steps down.

Martin Heydon says that while Kenny should remain in place to oversee Ireland's role in the EU's Brexit talks, a plan should be put in place to allow a smooth transition to another leader before a general election.

While Kenny has said he wants to remain as Taoiseach for the lifetime of the current Dáíl, he wants a new Fine Gael leader to be put in place before the general election.

But with the current Dáil arithmetic and the high prospect of an unplanned election being called, the only way another leader could quickly take over is if there is no contest for the leadership.

This would require high-profile candidates like Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald to agree in advance which of them should take the role.

Varadkar, the social protection minister, has also suggested he be interested in taking over - while one of the party's backbenchers, who last night called for "new leadership", has also hinted he would be interested.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: