The current Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has been installed as the new favourite to succeed Joan Burton as leader of the Labour Party when she reportedly steps down.
It is understood that Mr Howlin will become the new Labour leader when Ms Burton leaves her post after the formation of the next Government. According to a number of sources close to the party Mr Howlin has already received the backing of several senior Labour figures. The news comes after the party held a five-hour election sit down in Citywest recently which saw several party members calling for Ms Burton to step down.
However the acting Tánaiste told the meeting she would not make a decision on her future until after the formation of the next government. Meanwhile a fellow senior Labour source said that Mr Howlin, was likely to become a “compromise leader” until the next general election.