Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris will be confirmed as leader of Fine Gael on Sunday
Mr Harris announced his candidature on Thursday night following a series of endorsements from within the Fine Gael parliamentary party and after a number of senior colleagues said they did not intend to stand for the leadership. Mr Harris would then be expected to be formally elected as taoiseach in the Dail in April following the Easter recess.Outgoing Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Mr Varadkar surprised many within the political establishment by announcing his resignation on Wednesday.Mr Harris said that if elected leader, he would remain fully committed to the programme for government agreed with coalition partners Fianna Fail and the Green Party.