No candidates have yet been declared for the leadership of the Labour Party with the nominations for the position opening yesterday.

The opening of acceptance of nominations coincided with the first meeting of the Labour Parliamentary Party after the summer break. Tributes were paid at the meeting to the outgoing leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn.

There is increasing speculation that Mr Brendan Howlin and Mr Eamon Gilmore will declare before the end of the week. Others currently taking soundings are Mr Pat Rabbitte, Mr Willie Penrose, Ms Joan Burton, Ms Róisín Shortall and Dr Mary Upton.

According to sources, yesterday's parliamentary party meeting was routine, with a lot of "housekeeping" issues discussed. The Nice Treaty was also on the agenda.

"There were tributes to the leader and there was discussion on the mechanics of the leadership vote, such as who the tellers for the count will be and where the count will take place" said a source.

There was also a view expressed that two weeks is too long for the lodging of nominations for the position of party leader and deputy leader which close on September 18th. Polling of the party's 3,500 paid up members ends on October 25th.