Taoiseach Enda Kenny's leadership of Fine Gael was openly questioned by his own TDs at party meeting for the first time in years last night.

Mr Kenny also shocked his TDs and senators by announcing the reappointment of former minister Dr James Reilly as deputy leader of the party, just weeks after apparently stripping him of the position.

Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd said "new leadership" of the party is needed. While he did not directly challenge Mr Kenny, he said fresh leadership will be required at some stage. He also said preparations need to put in place for the next election.

“It was still a shot fired. The party needs to have this conversation,” said a TD.

The meeting came before the publication of an Irish Times/Ipsos MRSI poll on Thursday which showed party support falling two points to 24 per cent. Support for Fianna Fail has hit an eight-year high of 33 per cent following an nine point surge.

One Minister said it was the first time “in years” Mr Kenny’s leadership had been questioned publicly.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin said Fine Gael needed to prepare for “every eventuality” in advance of the next election.

Mr Griffin said the past few weeks have shown how precarious the Government is. Mr Kenny has already said he will not lead Fine Gael into that election and Mr Griffin’s comments were taken by some to be a reference to the need to discuss the leadership.

He said there would be “no excuse” if Fine Gael is not prepared for the election.

“Everyone else is talking about it,” said a deputy of the leadership. “The public is asking us when he is going, the membership are asking. The only place it is not being talked about is in the party room.”

Mr Kenny just weeks ago stripped former minister for health Mr Reilly of the deputy leader position. During a briefing with political correspondents Mr Kenny was asked about Dr Reilly’s position, and said: “No, James is not the deputy leader of the party. Obviously, he was the deputy leader and he did a very good job.”

The Taoiseach on Wednesday night opened the meeting by announcing the appointment, which one TD said “defied political logic”. “It is depressing,” the deputy added. “The more things change, the more they same the same.”

Dr Reilly lost his Dublin Fingal seat at the last election but was appointed by Mr Kenny to the Seanad as one of the Taoiseach’s 11 nominees.