The Progressive Democrats' constitution stipulates that the party leader be elected by a weighted process in which TDs, Senators, councillors, national executive members and trustees and ordinary members can vote.
With the party saying the leadership issue is now closed, the next time it is likely to be raised is directly after the next general election. Three weeks or less after every general election, the party leader must submit him or herself to a vote of confidence by the parliamentary party, which is conducted by secret ballot. He or she must resign if the vote of confidence is lost.
If the party leader resigns, dies or in the opinion of the parliamentary party has become permanently incapacitated, an election for a replacement must take place within two months. Only PD TDs can be candidates for the post. Candidates can nominate themselves but must have a TD to second them.
There are three separate electoral colleges: the parliamentary party (TDs, Senators and MEPs) who have 40 per cent of the vote; PD local authority members, national executive members and trustees who have 30 per cent of the vote; and those who have been party members for over a year who will have 30 per cent.
The election is by proportional representation. If there are three or more candidates and no candidate reaches the quota on the first count, the lowest candidate is eliminated and his or her votes are distributed among the remaining candidates and weighted according to the strength given to each of the electoral colleges.