The Fine Gael parliamentary party met today in a bid to chart a way forward for the party and to decide how and when to elect a new leader. The party will meet again to discuss the issues tomorrow.
At least four TDs are likely to put their names forward in any leadership contest. The only declared leadership candidate so far is Carlow-Kilkenny deputy, Phil Hogan. He is likely to be joined by Denis Naughton from Longford-Roscommon, Dublin North Central's Richard Bruton, and former leadership contender Enda Kenny from Mayo. Several other names have also been mentioned.
There are at least three schools of thought within the party about how and when to find a successor to Michael Noonan. Mr Noonan announced his resignation as soon as the scale of the defeat, involving the loss of 23 Dáil seats, became clear.
Some want to delay any vote until after the Seanad elections are concluded in the middle of July; some want an immediate election to prevent a vacuum developing; while others hope that a consensus will emerge about who should take over.
One complicating factor if the party decides to delay an election until the new Senators are elected in mid-July is that a new system of electing the leader, involving the party membership, is about to be voted on in a postal ballot by Fine Gael grassroots members. The result of that ballot will also be known by mid-July.
