Backbencher Brendan Griffin said he believes only a change in the Fine Gael leadership will avoid a general election in the autumn.
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Mr Kenny has told an event in Castlebar that he will “not be diverted” from the work he was mandated to do as Taoiseach.
Mr Griffin said colleagues and those in opposition knew Fine Gael was not prepared for an election should it arise as Enda Kenny had previously said he would not lead the party into another one.
On Friday, Irish government chief whip Regina Doherty called on Mr Kenny to clarify his intentions on how long he will remain as Fine Gael leader.
“Our lack of preparedness for a general election because of the leadership issue is severely weakening our negotiating position versus Fianna Fáil and Independents on every contentious issue, and this is going to get worse (particularly in respect of Fianna Fáil) if Fine Gael’s poll ratings continue to slide”, he declared.
“This is not the time for a leadership challenge”.
He said he is concerned about the Cabinet not acting as a collective but said he has been assured by Mr Kenny that it is a “one-off” and will not be tolerated again.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said: “Now is not the time for change, now is not the time for instability”.
Mr Griffin would not be drawn on whether or not he would be tabling a motion of No Confidence in the Taoiseach but also refused to rule it out.
His allies hope Mr Kenny’s comments on Monday, allied to the strong defence by his Ministers, will put the issue into abeyance for the present.
Party chairman Martin Heydon yesterday said he wants to see a “plan in place” for Mr Kenny to be succeeded as leader.
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It was a “lost opportunity”, he said, not to allow the parliamentary party to vote to select a deputy leader. On Tuesday, he explained, he will travel to Germany to “discuss Ireland’s unique relationship with the UK”.
