Dún Laoghaire TD Eamon Gilmore will be formally declared the new leader of the Labour Party today when the deadline for receipt of nominations for the position closes at noon.
Mr Gilmore is the only candidate to announce his interest in the position, with senior party members, including Brendan Howlin, Joan Burton, Liz McManus and Tommy Broughan, saying in the last week they would not be running.
However, there will be a hotly contested struggle for the deputy leadership between Dublin West TD Joan Burton and Limerick East TD Jan O'Sullivan. Ms Burton will be proposed for the position by Waterford TD Brian O'Shea and seconded by newly elected Dublin Midwest TD Joanna Tuffy. Ms O'Sullivan will be proposed by Longford Westmeath TD Willie Penrose and seconded by Cork East TD Seán Sherlock.
An estimated 4,000 Labour Party members who have been fully paid up for the last two years will be eligible to vote in the deputy leadership contest. Ballot papers will be posted next week. The deadline for the vote is October 4th.
Mr Gilmore told The Irish Timeslast night that he expected at this stage to be declared leader, with no other candidate expected to declare.