Tánaiste Brian Cowen expects more than one rival to his bid to become the next leader of Fianna Fáil, he said today.
The Minister for Finance, Brian cowen
Last month Taoiseach Bertie Ahern clearly anointed the Minister for Finance and deputy party leader as his successor when he steps down before the next general election.
However Mr Cowen indicated today that he expects "more than one" candidate to run for the top post in Fianna Fáil after Mr Ahern steps down. Mr Ahern has repeatedly said he will leave politics by the end of the current government term in 2012.
Potentials challengers for the party leadership include Ministers Micheál Martin, Dermot Ahern, Noel Dempsey and Mary Hanafin.
"It's always gratifying to have the trust and confidence of your boss," Mr Cowen told RTÉ Radio today.
But he added of the leadership: "Whenever that issue arises the parliamentary party will deal with it, and any prospective candidates there may be - there will certainly be more than one I would suggest - we will certainly see what level of support there will be for their candidacy at that time."
Mr Cowen reiterated that the Taoiseach intended to serve a full five-year term, but some observers believe he could quit around the mid-term mark.
"I'm not concerned about it. I'm not thinking about it. I'm getting on with my job. If there is sufficient support for my candidacy, maybe that will be the situation. I don't know what my state of health or anything else will be at that time.
"But at the end of the day as the Taoiseach said himself, it is a parliamentary party matter. It's not an imminent foreseeable issue that is going to arise.
"We have a lot of work to do. This Government is only just in place and the Programme for Government sets very ambitious and realistic plans we have to be getting on with.
In a clear endorsement of Mr Cowen, the Taoiseach said last month: "He is a hugely experienced politician. Obviously the party will ultimately decide, but [from] my point of view, he is the obvious successor to me in five years' time or whenever."