Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has written to his constituents promising to continue to represent them in the Dáil until the next general election, appearing to rule out an imminent move to another high-profile political role.
Mr Ahern made the commitment in a recent letter to households in his Dublin Central constituency, which was sent after his resignation announcement last month.
Mr Ahern wrote: "My motivation for first entering politics back in 1977 was to represent the people of my constituency; throughout my political life my greatest honour has been to represent them in Dáil Éireann.
"I want to assure you that this remains my priority up until the next election which is not due until 2012."
A spokeswoman for Mr Ahern said any talk of vacancies in the European Union was just speculation, adding "the plan at the moment is that he stays as a local TD until the next election."
Former taoiseach Albert Reynolds will be among the attendance at Dáil Éireann tomorrow afternoon for the expected election of Brian Cowen as taoiseach in succession to Bertie Ahern.
Mr Cowen received his first Cabinet appointment in February 1992 from Mr Reynolds, who chose the Laois-Offaly TD for the position of minister for labour after he took over as taoiseach from the late Charles Haughey.
Confirming his attendance as a visitor at tomorrow's proceedings, Mr Reynolds recalled that, when he was leaving office after the political upheaval of November 1994, he predicted Mr Cowen would one day become taoiseach.
"On the day I left office, he was the last man to say goodbye to me and I said to him, 'I hope I live long enough to see you sit in that chair as taoiseach'. He just smiled and said, 'That's a long way away, isn't it?'," Mr Reynolds told The Irish Times.
A large contingent of relatives, friends and supporters from Mr Cowen's constituency is travelling to Dublin for the occasion and Dáil passes are in much demand.
Fianna Fáil cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Eamon Dooley, said the overflow crowd was being accommodated at a Dublin hotel where they could "watch it on the big screen and have a few pints".
Commenting on local reaction to Mr Cowen's impending elevation, he said: "People around here of all shades and colours are absolutely thrilled with it. I have met staunch Fine Gael supporters who were delighted for Brian himself and for the county."
A civic reception for Mr Cowen is planned for Tullamore on Saturday at 3pm.
"The main event then is the homecoming at 5pm in his native town of Clara. It is not environmentally-friendly any more to have bonfires - we might just settle for the town band," Mr Dooley said.
The Fianna Fáil leader designate cleared out his desk at the Department of Finance on Saturday and spent the rest of the holiday weekend at home in Tullamore with his family.
Timeline: the Taoiseach's last days and his successors
first days
The timetable of events surrounding the resignation
of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, the election of his successor and the
appointment of the new Cabinet is as follows:
Today
11am:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Northern Ireland
First Minister Rev Ian Paisley perform joint opening ceremony at
Battle of the Boyne site.
6.10pm:Bertie Ahern tenders his resignation as Taoiseach to President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Tomorrow
10am:President McAleese, Bertie Ahern and members of
outgoing Cabinet attend official State commemoration of 1916 Rising
at Arbour Hill, Dublin.
2.30pm:Dáil resumes; Bertie Ahern informs the ceann comhairle he has tendered his resignation to the President; nominations are accepted for the office of taoiseach.
3.30pm (approx):Vote on nominees for taoiseach. Dáil sitting suspended to allow new taoiseach to travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive seal of office.
6.30pm (approx):Dáil resumes and incoming Taoiseach announces new Cabinet line-up. Debate follows.
9.30pm (approx.):Dáil votes on new Cabinet and Ministers go to receive seals of office from the President. First Cabinet meeting takes place at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Thursday
Dáil resumes. Taoiseach travels to Belfast to
attend Northern Ireland investment conference with British prime
minister Gordon Brown.