Leo Varadkar has resigned. Who is going to replace him (and who is not)?
Simon Contenders Are Mcentee, Helen Paschal Donohoe, Simon Gael Coveney Will And Be Harris, Leader? The Early Who Fine The Next Heather Humphreys
In a surprise move, Leo Varadkar announced his resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader on Wednesday, flanked by senior party ministers.
Focus will quickly switch to who will replace him, with Mr Varadkar indicating a new leader will be in place by the time of Fine Gael’s planned ard fheis in early-April, giving a narrow enough window for that new leader to be in place.
It has been indicated coalition partners Fianna Fáil and the Green Party will back that candidate’s election in the Dáil as Taoiseach shortly after, ahead of a general election which is due to take place by next March at the very latest.
Here’s who’s in the mix to be the next leader of Fine Gael (and Taoiseach):
Seen as the clear frontrunner with the bookies, Mr Harris is a former health minister and is currently Higher Education Minister.
Although he is now in a less high-profile brief, he has been credited with helping guide the Government at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic and the Wicklow TD has continued to feature prominently.
He is seen as a consistent performer who could help Fine Gael win back votes it may have lost after coming third behind Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil in terms of seats won in the last general election.
Also savvy in his use of social media, Mr Harris was also prominent in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment while health minister.
Previously touted as a future Fine Gael leader, Justice Minister Helen McEntee is TD for Meath East and also entered the Dáil through a by-election following the death of her father Shane.
Also seen as a strong performer in Brexit negotiations while minister of state for European affairs, she was given the landmark justice portfolio following the 2020 general election.
She has overseen the passing of legislation such as Coco’s Law, also championed by Labour’s Brendan Howlin, which has made online harassment and the sharing of intimate images a criminal offence.
However, she has come in for criticism for recent policing issues such as the handling of the Dublin riots in November 2023 and the spate of arson attacks at accommodation earmarked for asylum seekers.
A former finance minister and current Public Expenditure Minister, Paschal Donohoe was first elected to the Dáil in Dublin Central in 2011.
Since July 2020, he has been the president of the Eurogroup — the grouping of finance ministers in the eurozone.
He has overseen a number of Budgets, including the first ones to run into surplus since the financial crash.
While popular within the party, he has been consistently linked with top jobs abroad, including the head of the International Monetary Fund.
Also elected when Fine Gael came into Government in 2011, Cavan-Monaghan TD Heather Humphreys is the current Social Protection Minister.
Seen as an outsider for the top job compared to the other candidates, she flanked Leo Varadkar at his speech on Wednesday and is nevertheless seen as one of the most senior ministers in the party.
She is also seen as a consistent vote-getter locally, having been elected on the first count in the last two general elections.
After one failed attempt, when he lost to Leo Varadkar in 2017, will Cork South-Central TD Simon Coveney give it another try? The answer is no.
He confirmed on Wednesday night that he would not be looking to be the next Fine Gael leader.
"I made a decision quite some time ago that I wouldn't stand in another leadership race. I had my chance and wasn't successful,” Mr Coveney told RTÉ.