FF senators expected to choose new Cathaoirleach today

The new Cathaoirleach of the Seanad is expected to be agreed this afternoon at a meeting of Fianna Fáil's 28 senators.

The meeting will be attended by the Taoiseach, but he is expected to leave it entirely to the senators themselves to decide on their candidate.

Four contenders are believed to be vying for the €110,000-a-year post - Terry Leyden, Pat Moylan, Ann Ormonde and Jim Walsh.