Prospective candidates for the Labour leadership race have started taking soundings from party members in advance of the opening of nominations for the post next week.
While no deputy has yet declared for the contest, several have emerged as likely candidates, including the deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, Mr William Penrose, Mr Pat Rabbitte and Mr Éamon Gilmore.
Ms Joan Burton and Ms Róisín Shortall are also considering throwing their hats into the leadership ring. Ms Jan O'Sullivan has ruled herself out.
The nominations for the post open next Wednesday, when the Labour Parliamentary Party has its first meeting after the summer break. "It should be a lot clearer then who will run and who won't," a party source said.
Mr Howlin told The Irish Times he would take his time in deciding whether contest the leadership race: "I am doing what most of my colleagues are doing and going back to my constituency and sounding out what is best for the party and how we can best place it on a sound platform to build."
He said the party needed to be invigorated and to send a sharper message: "The full picture has to be taken into consideration when dealing with the leadership. My ambition is for the party to move forward. We have a formidable front bench and a good team on which to build."
The Westmeath TD, Mr Penrose, has not ruled himself out of the leadership contest but said last night he would take his time in making up his mind. Unlike other colleagues, he said he would not be consulting widely in the party.
"I am my own man. I will be consulting with my family and with my closest party colleagues in my constituency" he said. "I am in no rush with this. The deadline for submission of nominations does not close until September 18th. I will consider everything. I have three young children, and there are lots of other factors to be weighed up."
Mr Penrose said he would "unashamedly" represent the rural view in the party.
Dublin TD, Mr Seán Ryan, ruled himself out of the race. He said this was a crucial time in the party's history and it was important that "we get it right".
Party sources speculated last night that what may go against Mr Howlin is that he is closely aligned with the Ruairí Quinn and the Dick Spring leaderships.
One said that Mr Gilmore and Mr Rabbitte may be disadvantaged because they would be seen as coming from the old Democratic Left camp.
On that basis Mr Penrose, if he decided to run, would stand a good chance, according to one senior TD: "Don't forget that it will be the 3,500 members who will be voting for the leader and Mr Penrose would have huge support right across the country."
The nominations for the leadership open on October 4th and close on October 18th. Polling ends on October 25th.