The national executive of the Progressive Democrats will meet tonight to discuss a proposal for a change in party rules to allow for a member not elected to the Dáil to be chosen as leader.
Mary Harney
Minister for Health Mary Harney said earlier this week that neither she nor the party's only other TD, Noel Grealish, were interested in taking up the post on a permanent basis.
Ms Harney took over as interim leader of the party following Michael McDowell's election defeat. She stepped down from the role, which she had held for over a decade, last summer.
In an RTÉ interview on Tuesday, she said she would urge the party at its national executive meeting in Dublin tonight and its general council meeting on Sunday to alter rules to allow the next leader to come from outside the "Dáil party".
"Leading a party is not something I have on my agenda. I want to spearhead changes in the health system in Ireland. I want us to have achieved the kind of changes that's on the agenda, and I cannot achieve that as leader."
Former Laois-Offally TD and IFA leader Tom Parlon has emerged as clear leader to take over as leader should the rules be changed.
A PD spokesman told ireland.comtoday that current deputy leader Liz O'Donnell, who lost her Dáil seats in last month's election, has ruled herself out of running for the leadership.