James Reilly favourite to be named FG Seanad leader

Four ousted Fine Gael TDs —including ex minister James Reilly — are battling to become the party’s next Seanad leader, despite a number previously calling for the upper house to be scrapped.

The appointment will take place today, just hours before Fine Gael’s former coalition partner Labour announces its new list of public spokespeople — including a number of politicians who lost their seats.

Before the first sitting of the Seanad today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be tasked with appointing someone to lead the Government party in the upper house.