Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris is expected to announce his candidacy for the leadership of Fine Gael later today.
The Fine Gael Executive Council decided last night that nominations to become the next party leader will open at 10am this morning and close next Monday at 1pm. Should Mr Donohoe throw his hat in the ring, it would be in the knowledge that, if successful, he would have to give-up his position as President of the Eurogroup - the collective of finance ministers from countries which adopted the euro currency.There have been calls from the Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty and TD Fergus O'Dowd for an election to take place.
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