The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he has no plans for a general election this year.

He was asked at the World Economic Forum in Davos about going to the polls in 2017.

"We want to continue to manage our finances, prudently in the people's interest, and continue to grow employment, invest in infrastructure, provide good services for our people", he told CNBC.

"So you won't go to the polls in 2017?", the interviewer asked – "Not at all", Mr Kenny replied.

The Taoiseach and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum to promote Ireland as a location for international business and investment in the context of Brexit.

Mr Kenny is also outlining Ireland’s priorities in Brexit negotiations and Irish preparations in advance of negotiations at an informal gathering of leaders on Thursday.

While speaking about Ireland and Brexit, Mr Kenny said: "We've already agreed, the (British) Prime Minister and I, that as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, that there would be no return to borders of the past, or a hard border.

"That we would preserve the common travel area, north south and east west, England/Ireland, Ireland/England and so on.

"Clearly Britain will not be a member of the single market, and obviously in terms of the border, there will only be the one land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland when Britain...removes itself from the European Union.

"But we've agreed that there will not be a return to borders of the past, customs posts along that border, and while this may present a challenge, obviously it's a question to which we will achieve an answer."