October 22nd has been set as the date for the Presidential election, in the event of two or more candidates putting themselves forward for the post.
Declarations must be in by October 1st and to date, three prospective candidates have been mooted to oppose Mrs McAleese should she decide to seek a second seven-year term. She is expected to decide on whether to run within the next seven days.
Fine Gael have ruled out putting forward a candidate, while speculation suggests that Labour will not run Galway TD Mr Michael D Higgins who has been mooted as their likely nominee.
If Labour decide against running a party candidate then former UN director general Mr Dennis Halliday may enter the contest. He is being supported by left-wing figures including independent TD Mr Finian McGrath.
The most likely candidate remains Dana Rosemary Scallan, the independent who lost her European parliament seat in the June election. She has said she will declare her intention after Mrs McAleese signals whether she is standing.