As many as six candidates are expected to throw their names into the hat for the race for the leadership of the Labour Party following Mr Ruairí Quinn's announcement yesterday that he will not be seeking a second term as leader.
Hours after Mr Quinn's announcement, several prospective candidates emerged, including the party's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, Mr Eamon Gilmore and Mr Pat Rabbitte of the old Democratic Left camp, and Dublin North West TD Ms Roisin Shortall.
Westmeath TD, Mr Willie Penrose and Dublin West TD Mrs Joan Burton - who regained her seat in the last election - were also said last night to be seriously considering their positions.
Mr Howlin refused to confirm that he would be a candidate but said he had not ruled it out and would be consulting with colleagues.
However, it is understood that Mr Howlin has all but decided to stand and will be clear favourite.
The 46-year-old former teacher, who is the party's spokesman on Finance and who has been minister for Health and Environment in previous governments, lost out to Mr Quinn in the last leadership election by only 10 votes.
While the Party's Equality and Law Reform spokeswoman, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, last night ruled herself out of the race, Dublin North West Deputy, Ms Shortall, who was critical of Mr Quinn's leadership and refused to accept a post on his frontbench, is considering her options.
Deputy Shortall is on holidays in Italy and told the Irish Times last night she had no comment.
It is understood she was taken by surprise at the timing of Mr Quinn's decision and is anxious to take soundings from colleagues. Ms Shortall believes the party needs to take a new direction.
Both Mr Rabbitte, the party's Justice spokesman and Mr Gilmore, the Communications and Natural Resources spokesman, were also considering their positions last night.
It was widely speculated the former Democratic Left TDs would decide which of them should run against Mr Howlin for the top post in the party.
Both men have leadership ambitions and while Mr Gilmore is more popular with the higher echelons of the party, Mr Rabbitte commands a lot of support with the membership around the country.
"If the party wants someone to put a boot into the Government, Rabbitte is the man," one source said last night. In the run up to the election Labour had to hold back in case they were going into government with Fianna Fáil, the source said. "That didn't happen and maybe what is needed now is a leader who will land some punches."
Mr Penrose said last night he had not decided if he will run but confirmed he was consulting colleagues. Ms Burton had no comment to make but it is understood she has not ruled herself out. Even though she has only returned to the Dáil in the last election after losing out in 1997, colleagues say she has the experience required having held a junior ministerial post.
Political Profiles:
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte (53) is a TD for Dublin South West. His path to the Dáil was similar to Eamon Gilmore's, cutting his teeth in student politics and working as a trade union official.
He, too, was first elected to the Dáil as a Workers' Party TD in 1989, later joining Democratic Left and Labour when the two parties merged. He had been a member of the Labour Party for a time in the 1970s.
A native of Co Mayo, he was educated at St Colman's College, Claremorris, and UCG. He was president of the UCG students' union from 1970 to 1971 and of the Union of Students in Ireland from 1972 to 1974.
He was a senior official with the then Irish Transport and General Workers' Union before securing his Dublin South West seat.
Mr Rabbitte was minister of State in the rainbow government and at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, with special responsibility for commerce, science, technology and consumer affairs. He had the right to attend Cabinet meetings but not to vote.
His opposition portfolios have included finance, enterprise and employment, tourism and trade, health, education and tourism and transport.
He caused some surprise before the last election when he said that he would not serve as a Labour minister in a coalition involving Fianna Fáil.
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore (47) represents Dún Laoghaire in the Dáil, to which he was first elected as a Workers' Party deputy in 1989. He later joined Democratic Left, following the WP split, and Labour when it amalgamated with DL.
Mr Gilmore was minister of State in the Department of the Marine, with special responsibility for port development, pollution and nuclear hazards in the rainbow government from 1994 to 1997.
He has also held a variety of opposition portfolios over the years.
These included education, environment, justice, transport, energy and communications, marine, agriculture and public enterprise.
A native of Co Galway, he was educated at Garbally College, Ballinasloe, and UCG, where he became active in student politics. Mr Gilmore was president of the UCG students' union from 1974 to 1975, and of the Union of Students in Ireland from 1976 to 1978.
In 1978 he joined the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (now SIPTU) and served as acting branch secretary in Galway and branch secretary in Tralee, Co Kerry.
In 1981, he was appointed the Dublin-based secretary of the professional and managerial branches.
Brendan Howlin
Brendan Howlin (46) is a TD for his native Wexford and the party's deputy leader. He was defeated by Mr Quinn in a contest for the leadership, following Mr Dick Spring's retirement in November 1997.
Mr Howlin was a minister in the Fianna Fail-Labour and rainbow governments of the 1990s. He was minister for health from January 1993 to November 1994 and minister for the environment from December 1994 to June 1997.
He has served as the party's chief whip as well as spokesman on the environment, health and youth affairs, health and women's issues. He was appointed spokesman on finance by Mr Quinn on the new front bench chosen after the May general election.
Eamon Gilmore (47) represents Dún Laoghaire in the Dáil, to which he was first elected as a Workers' Party deputy in 1989. He later joined Democratic Left, following the WP split, and Labour when it merged with DL.
He was minister of State in the Department of the Marine, with special responsibility for port development, pollution and nuclear hazards in the rainbow government from 1994 to 1997.
He has also held a variety of opposition portfolios, including education, environment, justice, transport, energy and communications, marine, agriculture and public enterprise.