Fine Gael has decided to reopen nominations to be the party's candidate for the presidential election.
Nominations will open at 12pm tomorrow and will close at noon on 2 September.
To be nominated, a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the party, 25 Fine Gael councillors and five members of the Executive Council.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said that over the "over the next two weeks, there will now be an opportunity for people who wish to seek the Fine Gael nomination to come forward and to engage with our TDs, senators, councillors and members from right across Ireland".
"This will enable us to have a candidate in place by mid-September, in plenty of time for the election in the weeks ahead," he added.
"I wish any and all prospective candidates the very best."
Mr Harris paid tribute to Mairead McGuinness who announced she was withdrawing from the race last Thursday.
Ms McGuinness cited health reasons and said the decision followed a stay in hospital.
Mr Harris wished Ms McGuinness a full recovery and thanked her for her "incredible public service".
The Executive Council extended the party's "best wishes" to Ms McGuinness and said members "hope to see her back involved in the party again in the future".
Former TD Heather Humphreys and Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly are both believed to be seriously re-considering a presidential bid.
Several TDs have voiced their support for Ms Humphreys.
Former Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald said Ms Humphreys would have her "full support" if she were to run for Áras an Uachtaráin.
Ms Humphreys served in five government departments, including Social Protection, Rural Affairs, Justice, Arts and Enterprise. She was also the former deputy leader of the Fine Gael Party.
A member of Fine Gael's National Executive said yesterday that people were expressing their views but said there was no evidence that camps had begun to form.
Other candidates who have launched a bid include Independent TD for Galway West Catherine Connolly and businessman Gareth Sheridan.
