Fine Gael is set for a contest for the party's presidential nomination, with party figures starting to come out in support of former minister Heather Humphreys and TD Seán Kelly

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has said that a meeting of his party’s parliamentary party should be "convened urgently" to discuss the forthcoming presidential election

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Kelly said that his previous announcement that he would not contest the election had been “the most difficult decision” of his career.

It comes after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

The poll also found she is the most popular in a list of potential candidates for Áras an Uachtaráin

MEP Seán Kelly says he's reconsidering whether to run for the presidency after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the running

Frances Fitzgerald has ruled herself out of the presidential race despite Mairead McGuinness' departure from the election contest

Mairead McGuinness said she made the 'very difficult decision' to stand down following a stay in hospital last week.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has confirmed she will launch her presidential election bid next week

The former head of the GAA said the decision not to stand had been 'one of the biggest decisions' of his life.

Mairead McGuinness has pulled out of the presidential race and said the decision was made as a result of medical advice.

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Former minister Mary Hanafin is to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the presidential election

Despite Taoiseach Simon Harris insisting the Government will serve its full term to March 2025, November remains the most likely time for the next general election, according to former minister for agriculture Ivan Yates

Kathleen Funchion got 61 per cent of transfers from her running mate Paul Gavan’s eliminated share.

Sinn Fein are still in a battle to gain a European Parliament seat, as counting continues in two of three constituencies.

‘We are extremely careful,’ returning officer Martin Harvey said on the fourth day of counting in Cork.

Nine of Ireland’s 14 European Parliamentary seats remain unfilled

Returning officer Martin Harvey said that once candidates are eliminated, each count will take around an hour.

The Taoiseach has said it will be "challenging" for Fine Gael to keep its European seats in June's elections

Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan said: ‘This is a dark day for the European peace project’