Minister for the Environment John Gormley and former Dublin MEP Patricia McKenna remained the only two candidates for the leadership of the Green Party when nominations closed yesterday.
Carlow-Kilkenny TD Mary White has been re-elected without opposition to the post of deputy leader.
Ballot papers for the leadership election go out to more than 1,000 party members in the post on Monday and must be returned, after a week-long campaign, by Tuesday July 17th.
The new leader of the party, in succession to Trevor Sargent, is expected to be announced the following day. Each of the two candidates was required to have the support of 50 party members for their nomination.
Although Ms McKenna is generally perceived to have little chance of winning the election, most interest will centre on whether or not she can secure more than the 13 per cent of party members who voted against entering coalition with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats at last month's Mansion House conference.
