Process of electing leader: Michael McDowell will today be crowned leader of the Progressive Democrats following the agreement yesterday between the major players to avoid a leadership election.
Under the party's rules, nominations for the leadership will close at noon, though the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be the only candidate.
He will be nominated by Laois/Offaly TD and Minister of State for Finance, Tom Parlon, and seconded by Dublin South TD and former minister of State for foreign affairs, Liz O'Donnell.
In turn, Mr McDowell, once elected, will appoint Mr Parlon as party president, a position that was created solely to ease Mr McDowell's return to the party's fold in 2002. He will also appoint Ms O'Donnell as deputy leader, an office that is currently provided for in the party's constitution but which is not filled, and which is entirely in the gift of the leader.
Mr McDowell's appointment as Tánaiste is unlikely to be before the Cabinet meets on Wednesday, as this will require the sanction of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, though Mr Ahern could give approval earlier if he wished. Technically, however, Mr McDowell does not have to be appointed Tánaiste.
As no leadership election is being held, the approval of the party's 21-strong national executive, or its much larger national council, does not have to be secured for the election of Mr McDowell.
If there had been more nominations, the national executive would have had to meet today to ratify the list of names. A press conference will be held shortly after the closing period for nominations. Party officers were still working last night on a venue. It may take place in the party's Frederick Street headquarters.
Welcoming the solution last night, Ms O'Donnell said everyone in the party had worked from the time of Ms Harney's resignation announcement to ensure there was no discord in the party. The settlement, she said, was "unifying" because it ensured that all three possible candidates had been brought on board.
An election, she said, would have "inevitably caused divisions no matter how careful people were in what they said. I am very pleased by the outcome."
In a statement last night, she said: "From the very beginning I was always anxious to avoid a divisive leadership contest. . .
"This is an inclusive settlement of the leadership issue which will unify and strengthen the party."
