Martin expected to declare intentions later
Nominations for the leadership of Fianna Fail will close at lunchtime on Monday with an election by secret ballot to be held at 2pm on Wednesday, party chairman John Browne has confirmed.
Amid speculation as to who will contest the leadership, a number of Fianna Fáil TDs have this afternoon already declared their support for former foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin, whose initial leadership bid failed earlier this week.
Deputy Martin is expected to clarify his intentions later today.
Among party members who have already declared their support for him as leader are backbenchers Timmy Dooley, John O'Donoghue, Chris Andrews, Michael McGrath, Ned O'Keefe, Sean Haughey and Sean Ardagh, who said he would favour Deputy Martin as leader with Mary Hanafin as deputy leader.
"I believe that Micheál Martin TD is the person who should now lead Fianna Fáil and I will be supporting his candidature should he put his name forward," Deputy Andrews, TD for Dublin South, said in a statement.
"Micheál has I believe, the qualities that are needed to lead and re-energise both the Fianna Fáil party and Ireland as a whole. His vision for Ireland’s future is very much in line with my own, and it is for this reason that he will have my support.”
