77 TDs to decide successor

SEVENTY-seven TDs will decide the successor to Bertie Ahern as taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil as the party’s policy precludes senators, MEPs and Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue from voting.

The first step towards selecting a new leader takes place today when the parliamentary party’s executive — consisting of the chairman, leader, deputy leader, whip and assistant whip — meet to agree a deadline for nominations and the date for an election if there is more than one candidate.

Those arrangements will be relayed to the party’s national executive, which is conveniently, but by coincidence, also meeting tonight. If it becomes clear that there is only one candidate, his or her election could be confirmed within days as happened when Mr Ahern was uncontested in succeeding Albert Reynolds.