Overview

• The party’s nomination process closed with Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin as the only contenders, who will each make a ten‑minute pitch to the parliamentary party on Tuesday before a secret ballot.
• Gavin has racked up far more public endorsements from Fianna Fáil TDs, senators and MEPs, and he has the support of the party leadership including the Taoiseach.
• Kelleher has criticized early endorsements, called for an open contest, and rejected suggestions that backing him would challenge Micheál Martin’s leadership.
• Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has ruled himself out of the race and said he will not run as an independent after failing to secure the leadership’s backing.
• Outside Fianna Fáil, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys have secured the support needed to appear on the ballot, while Conor McGregor has applied to address Dublin City Council as he seeks a council nomination ahead of the October 24 election.