Minister of State Pippa Hackett has edged ahead of Minister Roderic O'Gorman in declarations of support from the parliamentary party in the Green Party leadership race.
Senator Róisín Garvey, who is from Co Clare, posted on social media last night that rural and regional balance were needed now, and Ms Hackett was ready, willing and able to lead the party.
Senator Garvey is the fifth member of the parliamentary party to support Minister Hackett, along with Minister of State Ossian Smyth and TDs Brian Leddin and Stephen Matthews, as well as party chair Senator Pauline O'Reilly.
Those who have declared for Minister Roderic O'Gorman include Ministers of State Malcolm Noonan and Joe O'Brien, as well as TDs Marc Ó Cathasaigh and Patrick Costello.
Outgoing leader Eamon Ryan and outgoing deputy leader Catherine Martin have said they will follow party protocol and not back any candidate in the race.
Deputy Francis Noel Duffy and Senator Vincent P Martin have indicated they are not going to declare their intentions.
It is currently unclear what deputy Neasa Hourigan and Senator Malachai O’Hara will do.
Among Green Party councillors, around a dozen have declared support for Minister O'Gorman, with only four backing Minister Hackett so far - among them Councillor Tom Kivlehan and Councillor Erika Doyle.
The councillors endorsing Mr O'Gorman include former lord mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, Janet Horner, Carolyn Moore, Feljin Jose, Michael Pidgeon, Oliver Moran, Oisin O'Connor, Ray Cunningham, Eva Dowling, Marianne Butler, and Honore Kamegni.
While Minister O'Gorman and Minister Hackett are the only candidates currently in the contest, nominations can be submitted until 9pm on Monday.
The outcome will be decided by the party membership, which is thought to stand at around 4,000 people.
The Green Party will announce its new leader on 8 July.
Information about the election of a deputy leader, following Minister Martin's decision to stand down from the post, will be announced at a later date.
