An intense battle for the Labour Party leadership is brewing with three senior TDs indicating they will be putting their names forward for the job, writes Miriam Donohoe, Political Staff
A fourth, Brendan Howlin, said he would be giving the matter his "strongest consideration" over the weekend.
Mr Howlin said last night there was no standing order or constitutional impediment preventing him from contesting the leadership while holding the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Dáil, which was offered to him by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern after the general election.
Mr Howlin, who unsuccessfully contested two leadership elections, said he travelled to Dublin yesterday from his Wexford constituency to take soundings and was "greatly encouraged" by what he heard. "I will be considering options over the weekend and will probably make a decision on Monday," he said.
He added that if elected leader he would relinquish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle job, which carries a junior ministerial salary.
Deputy leader of the party Liz McManus said she would not decide whether to contest the leadership until after the the Labour Party national executive committee (NEC) meet on September 1st, at which a closing date for receipt of nominations will be set.
Ms McManus - who took over as acting leader after Pat Rabbitte bowed out on Thursday - said she has a lot of work to do in advance of the NEC meeting and it would be a distraction if she were weighing up whether or not to contest the leadership.
While no TD has yet officially declared for the election, deputies Eamon Gilmore of Dún Laoghaire, Tommy Broughan of Dublin North East and Joan Burton of Dublin West gave strong indications they would be throwing their hats in the ring.
Westmeath-based TD Willie Penrose, who contested the deputy leadership in 2002, said he would not be contesting the leadership on this occasion for family reasons.
Mr Gilmore, who has emerged as an early favourite for the position, and is the party's environment spokesman, said he was discussing the issue with colleagues but was still recovering from the surprise of Mr Rabbitte's resignation.
He had expected Mr Rabbitte to contest the next leadership election and to win it, he said.
Veteran Galway West TD Michael D Higgins said he would support Mr Gilmore if he was a leadership candidate.
Mr Gilmore said his interest in the role was no secret given that he had run in the last leadership election. If successful he would not be in favour of an alliance of the left, he said.
Ms Burton, the party's finance spokeswoman, said she was "very interested in the job and in the future of the Labour Party" and was "assessing the situation", talking to people and listening to what they think the Labour Party should be doing.
Mr Broughan, Labour's spokesman on communications, said he had been contacted by constituents, friends and supporters asking him to "strongly consider" running for the leadership and he would be considering it over the next few days.
Limerick-based TD Jan O'Sullivan said last night she had not ruled out running, while Roisin Shortall could not be contacted last night. But party sources said it is not expected that either would declare.
The party's NEC will set a date next Saturday for a deadline for submission of nominations for leader and deputy leader with a replacement for Mr Rabbitte due by mid-October.
Members who have paid two years' consecutive membership fees have a vote. There are approximately 8,000 members and an estimated 4,000 members are thought to be eligible to vote.