Helen McEntee rules out leadership bid as Fine Gael politicians ...

At a glance 

Simon Harris the favourite to take over as Fine Gael leader; Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys, Helen McEntee and Simon Coveney rule themselves out of running for leader; More than 25 Fine Gael members now supporting Simon Harris. They include: Justice Minister Helen McEntee, TDs Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Neale Richmond, Brendan Griffin, Emer Higgins, Patrick O’Donovan and Frank Feighan, senators Barry Ward, Michael Carrigy and Tim Lombard, and MEPs Seán Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald and Maria Walsh; New leader to be announced at party ard fheis on April 6; 'We give it everything until we can’t anymore and then we have to move on': Read Leo Varadkar's emotional resignation speech in full; ‘Who would want the job?’: Cork people's reaction to Varadkar's decision to step down  ieExplains: What happens now Varadkar has resigned? Will there be an election?

At a private meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night, Mr Varadkar, who was first elected in 2007, said he had made the decision to step down in Washington over the weekend and joked he could not find anyone to stab him in the back so had to fall on his own sword.

The focus now turns to April 6 when a new leader will be announced at the party's ard fheis in Galway.

Leo Varadkar, flanked by Fine Gael colleagues, announces his departure as Taoiseach and party leader. Picture: Collins 

There is a growing sense that Mr Harris's election will be a "coronation", with more than 25 TDs and senators throwing their support behind him.

Helen McEntee has endorsed Mr Harris to be the next Taoiseach, with the justice minister becoming the most senior Fine Gael member to publicly declare their intention to support him.

Ms McEntee had earlier confirmed she will not be contesting the race.

Meanwhile, Ms Humphreys decided not to contest the race, instead backing Mr Harris to lead the party and become Taoiseach.

“I discussed it at length with my family and I have reached the decision that I will not be putting my name forward as leader of Fine Gael, but I will be giving my full support to Simon Harris,” she said.

Mr Donohoe, who has also announced he is not in the running to become leader, has not backed anyone to replace Mr Varadkar.

He said: "I have long said that my focus is on the two jobs that I am privileged to hold; that of Government Minister and as President of the Eurogroup. That remains to be the case. It is with a huge honour that I undertake my work on the domestic and international stage.”

“I do believe that a wealth of talent and experience exists in Fine Gael and that exciting times lie ahead, both for the Party and ultimately for the country.”

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has ruled herself out of the Fine Gael leadership race while Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is a strong contender. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Throughout the morning, TDs and senators including Brendan Griffin, Emer Higgins, Alan Farrell, Frankie Feighan and Colm Burke have publicly supported Mr Harris. Three of the party’s five MEPs — Seán Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald and Maria Walsh — have also thrown their support behind him.

Junior minister Neale Richmond said Mr Harris had the "energy, experience and compassion" to lead a fundamental step-change in both the Government and the party.

"I want our party and our country to be led by Simon Harris," he said.

Mr Richmond will be joined by senators Barry Ward and Sean Kyne as well as another junior minister Peter Burke in supporting Mr Harris when nominations open today.

MEP Frances Fitzgerald also said she will be nominating Mr Harris. “I believe Simon has all of the necessary qualities to lead the country as Taoiseach at this critical time," she said.

Cork Senator Tim Lombard added his voice to the chorus of support for Mr Harris.

"Simon Harris has the energy to deliver for Fine Gael across the country," Mr Lombard said.

Seeing Simon in action, this is a politician who connects with people. We need someone who can connect across generations, driving us all forward as one. Simon Harris is that man.

One backer of Mr Harris says he has received the support of up to 100 Fine Gael councillors. It is also understood that all nine Wicklow Fine Gael councillors have thrown their support behind Mr Harris.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe is expected to make a decision in the next day or two with sources saying he is "seriously considering" a run at the leadership.

One Fine Gael minister claimed that while the level of support for Mr Harris is now "unassailable", they did admit that Mr Donohoe would be the only person to threaten the higher education minister in a contest.

Nominations will open for the Fine Gael leadership from Thursday morning and will close on Monday at 1pm.

Six members of the parliamentary party — comprising TDs, senators and MEPs — are needed to nominate a candidate, and the parliamentary party’s vote counts for 65% of the share when the party elects its new leader.

If there is a contest between two candidates, which many members of Fine Gael have said they expect and want to happen, hustings will take place before votes are cast.

Simon Coveney, who ran against Mr Varadkar in 2017, has already firmly ruled himself out, saying: "I made a decision quite some time ago that I wouldn't stand in other leadership contests. I got a chance and wasn't successful that time."

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan and Justice Minister Helen McEntee at the Backweston Laboratory Campus in Co Kildare on Thursday. Picture: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA Wire

Meanwhile, a number of Fianna Fáil members have called on Tánaiste Micheál Martin to insist that he take over the Taoiseach's position.

"There is a strong argument that Micheál should take over as Taoiseach," one senior Fianna Fáil member said.

The source, who confirmed that this is the view of multiple Fianna Fáil TDs, added that the public would be reassured by having a leader who is already "familiar" to them and has a "track record" in the Taoiseach's office.

One Fianna Fáil backbencher said their party now needs to “pin Fine Gael to the wall while they’re down” and to try to force a general election, rather than allow the party "bed in" a new leader and Taoiseach. 

But others dismissed this notion.

At the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party last night, Mr Martin said the resignation had raised a number of issues and acknowledged that members may have different perspectives.

He told TDs and senators that he would meet all members in the coming days to get their views, but he told the private meeting that the Programme for Government states that the leader and ministers of each party are a matter solely for that party.