EU: Mr Bruton's nomination to the Washington job following Mr Charlie McCreevy's appointment as EU Commissioner means there will now be two Dáil by-elections almost certain to be held together next year.
The polls in Meath and Kildare North will create a significant electoral test for the Government, almost certainly in the first half of next year.
As the party of a TD resigning his Dáil seat, Fine Gael has the right to decide when to "move the writ" for the Meath poll, thus determining when it will be held. Similarly it is up to Fianna Fáil to move the writ to replace Mr McCreevy in Kildare North.
But it is expected that when one party moves its writ, the other will do likewise to ensure both polls take place on the same day. Mr Bruton takes up his post in November, so the by-elections are not expected to take place until at least spring 2005.
Neither party has decided the most advantageous time to hold the by-elections.
While no government has won a by-election for 22 years, the Fianna Fáil vote in Meath and Kildare North is traditionally higher than the national average.
Possible Fine Gael contenders to replace Mr Bruton include former TD Mr John Farrelly, newly elected Councillor Mr Charles Bobbitt and Mr Shane McEntee, a brother of the Meath footballer Gerry McEntee have been mentioned as possible candidates. A son of Mr Bruton's Mr Matthew Bruton is active in student politics in Maynooth College