TDs, outgoing senators, county councils and county borough councils will today begin voting in the election of members to the next Seanad.
Following the candidate nominations over the last month, ballot papers for the election are being sent out to Seanad panel members today and the poll will close on July 16th.
The Fianna Fáil deputy leader, Mrs Mary O'Rourke is expected to be appointed cathaoirleach of the Upper House, taking over from Mr Brain Mullooly who is retiring from politics.
Mrs O'Rourke's failure to hold her Dáil seat in Westmeath was one of the surprises of the general election in May. The former minister of public enterprise lost her seat to party colleague, Mr Donie Cassidy, the outgoing Seanad leader.
During the candidate selections, Fine Gael ruffled feathers when it decided against nominating the party's outgoing leader in the Seanad, Mr Maurice Manning, for election.
Mr Manning was not expected to put his name forward as he had indicated he would not run, saying potential Dáil candidates should be given a chance.
The selection of the disability rights campaigner Ms Kathy Sinnott as a Seanad candidate on the Labour panel also caused some controversy, ended by a High Court ratification last month.
Ms Sinnott failed by six votes to win a seat in Cork South Central in the general election. She was nominated to the Labour panel by Independent TDs Ms Marian Harkin, Mr Finian McGrath, Mr Seamus Healy and Dr Jerry Cowley, but her qualifications to contest that panel were challenged. A High Court judge found in her favour on June 21st.
The 60 members of Seanad include 11 nominated by the Taoiseach, 43 elected by panel members and six elected by the graduates of the National University of Ireland and the Trinity College Dublin.
In the university poll, eyes were focused on the battle for selection between outgoing senator and retired INTO secretary general, Mr Joe O'Toole, and former ASTI president, Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan.
All six outgoing senators on the university panel are seeking re-election. There are 23 other candidates in the postal ballot which began on June 12th and closes on July 17th.
Under the constitution, the election for Seanad Éireann must take place within the ninety days following a dissolution of Dáil Éireann. The President, on the advice of the Taoiseach, will fix the day of the first Seanad meeting after its election.