Quartet most likely to challenge for leadership

WHEN it comes to finding a replacement for Pat Rabbitte, the “most likely to succeed” list is not a long one, stretching at best to four candidates.

Deputy party leader Liz McManus, Brendan Howlin, Eamon Gilmore and Joan Burton all make the list, but they can also each be eliminated from it for various reasons.

Howlin is in the most peculiar position. Having been outspoken in his criticism of Rabbitte’s management of the party’s election campaign, he would appear the obvious face for a fresh start, but his recent appointment to the position of Leas Ceann Comhairle would seem to rule him out of the leadership race.