Speculation is increasing that former minister for children James Reilly will be appointed Fine Gael leader in the Seanad.
As the new Upper House prepares to meet this Wednesday for the first time, it is also expected that university Senators will split into two groups of Independents in a break from tradition.
And while Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan, leas cathaoirleach in the outgoing Seanad, is expected to be elected as cathaoirleach in a deal agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin will nominate Mayo Senator Rose Conway-Walsh for the role.
The announcement of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s 11 nominees last month paved the way for the Seanad’s first meeting.
It is Fine Gael tradition that the leader decides who will lead the group in the Upper House. The Taoiseach has not given the party’s group of 19 Senators a formal indication of his preference, but it is thought increasingly likely that Dr Reilly, as the most senior of the party’s Senators, will be selected. Dr Reilly remains deputy leader of Fine Gael even though Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald is Tánaiste.
He is the most senior of the five former TDs, four of whom lost their Dáil seats, whom the Taoiseach appointed among his nominees. Other former TDs who have also been mentioned as potential Seanad leaders include Joe O’Reilly, Kieran O’Donnell, Paudie Coffey and Jerry Buttimer.
As is usual when a new Seanad meets, there is just one item on the agenda: the election of a new cathaoirleach.
Father of the House Independent Senator David Norris will take the chair to accept nominations for the position.
Fine Gael now has 19 Senators, while Fianna Fáil has 14, which gives them a majority in the 60 seat House.
Mr O’Donovan, who defeated party colleague Terry Leyden in an internal election, is expected to be the new cathaoirleach. Senator Conway- Walsh will still be nominated by Sinn Féin, which has seven seats. The party acknowledges that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have the numbers but one senior member said: “Strange things do happen in the Seanad.”
And in a break from Seanad tradition the university Senators are dividing into two Independent groupings.
Five of the six university panel Senators are Independent and they usually form a loose alliance.
However, incoming Trinity Senator Lynn Ruane and NUI Senator Alice Mary Higgins are expected to form a new grouping with Grace O'Sullivan from the Greens, singer Frances Black and Disability Federation of Ireland chief executive John Dolan, both Independents.
Senator Norris and NUI Senators Michael McDowell and Rónán Mullen will be part of a separate group which also includes former Victor Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Alzheimer Society chief executive Collette Kelleher and Pieta House founder Joan Freeman.
Once the cathaoirleach is selected on Wednesday the House will adjourn for a week.
