WHO WILL SELECT THE NEW TAOISEACH AND HOW LONG WILL THE PROCESS TAKE?

AS political earthquakes go, Leo Varadkar’s shock announcement yesterday was seismic. But what happens next? Here, Political Correspondent Aisling Moloney outlines how the process of finding the next Taoiseach will unfold, who’ll be aiming for the hot seat... and for how long they’ll be in it.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

First up, Fine Gael will have to select a new leader.

This decision has added weight for the party as the person who is selected as leader will immediately assume the office of the Taoiseach, as it is Fine Gael’s turn among the current Coalition parties to have control of the top job.

According to the party’s internal rules, the replacement candidate need to be nominated within the next seven days.

WHEN WILL THE CONTEST TAKE PLACE?

The starting gun will sound as soon as the hopeful candidates declare their intention to seek the nod from their party.

However, unofficially, moves have been made in the background by those seeking to position themselves, as they aim to curry favour among those in the parliamentary party and at grassroots level.

It’s then open season for the hopeful candidates who will seek to canvass the party membership for their vote.

However, the shape of the contest depends on how many candidates put themselves forward for the job.

It remains to be seen whether this is a one-horse race or if there will be several runners.

HOW WILL THE FINE GAEL CONTEST WORK?

Candidates for the position of party leader must be members of Dáil Éireann.

According to rules set out in the Fine Gael constitution, a candidate must be nominated in writing by members representing at least 10% of the parliamentary party, not more than seven days after the vacancy arises.

There are 55 members of the parliamentary party made up of 34 TDs, 16 senators and five MEPs, meaning anyone who wants to be put forward needs at least six members to nominate them.

This contest is tight as Mr Varadkar said that he wanted the new leader to be picked by the time of the party ard fheis on April 6. A 17-day contest now gets under way with ballots needing to be circulated to the party membership in this time.

Fine Gael had adopted an ‘electoral college’ approach to selecting the leader before Mr Varadkar took the reins – he was the first leader to be elected under the current system.

It means that the 55 people who are in the parliamentary party have 65% of the vote, while the ordinary party membership who pay to be part of Fine Gael have 25%, and the public representatives, made up of 254 local councillors, have the remaining 10%.

Party members must be affiliated for at least two years to be eligible to vote. There are around 21,000 Fine Gael members across Ireland.

They will all vote on the same day and by secret ballot.

WHEN WILL THE WINNER BE ANNOUNCED?

The contest is usually carried out over a longer time span than 17 days, with the Taoiseach saying he wanted the new leader in place by the party’s ard fheis on April 6.

Regional meetings have to be organised to allow the party membership to meet the candidates, and are supposed to be held between day ten and day 18 of the contest.

However, if this contest is shorter than that, the regional meetings will be organised for the day before polling.

Once the party votes, it will be announced by the national returning officer, who will be appointed by the executive council of Fine Gael.

HOW DO THEY BECOME TAOISEACH?

Once the person is ratified as leader of Fine Gael by a majority of votes in favour within their party, they will then become Taoiseach the next time the Dáil meets.

If Fine Gael succeeds in selecting a leader by April 6, then the next time the Dáil sits after this is Tuesday, April 9.

The Irish Constitution says that the Taoiseach is appointed by the President of Ireland on the nomination of the Dáil.

When the Dáil resumes, the successful candidate will be ‘nominated’ by a fellow member of the current coalition to be Taoiseach and all TDs will vote.

The current Government has the numbers of a majority in the House, meaning the candidate is expected to be voted through despite potential votes against from the Opposition benches.

Once the Dáil votes for the TD, this deputy will be able to go to the President to be formally installed as the Taoiseach and head of the Government.

WHEN IS THE NEXT ELECTION?

The term of the current Coalition is up in spring 2025, which comes after it has served five years in government.

However, there has been speculation recently that an election could be called in the autumn of this year.

This has now been thrown into further doubt as a new leader of Fine Gael will have only had around six months to bed in as Taoiseach at most before going to the country.

Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan, leaders of Fianna Fáil and the Greens respectively, have spoken of their desire for the Coalition to last its full term.