Fine Gael leader to be declared after 16-day contest

The leader of Fine Gael is expected to be declared before 6pm this evening after a 16-day campaign.

The leadership contest, which gives a say to councillors and grassroots members for the first time, is now likely to be copied by other political parties in the future given the positive and widespread media coverage it generated for Fine Gael.

Councillors and ordinary members have been voting at 26 polling stations across the country on a staggered basis for the past four days, and a polling station was also set up in Brussels on Monday to cater for Fine Gael staff working in EU offices.