Eamon Gilmore's hopes of being elected as the next leader of the Labour Party received a boost last night with former leader Ruairí Quinn declaring his support for the Dún Laoghaire TD.
Mr Gilmore became the first Labour deputy to formally declare his candidacy on Tuesday, while party spokeswoman on finance Joan Burton is widely expected to announce her candidacy today or tomorrow.
Last night the party's transport spokeswoman, Róisín Shortall, announced in a brief statement said she would not be contesting the leadership. Ms Shortall said she had thought about it over the last few days and had come to her decision and did not want to expand further than that.
Acting leader of the party Liz McManus has said she will not decide whether or not to run until next week. She is also deputy leader of the party. Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan is still considering entering the contest but could not be contacted last night.
Limerick East TD Jan O'Sullivan said on Tuesday that she would be contesting the deputy leadership, while newly-elected Cork South Central TD Ciarán Lynch said the same day that he was considering also entering the race for deputy leader after being approached by a number of party members.
Brendan Howlin, who ran for the party leadership against Mr Quinn in 1997 and Pat Rabbitte in 2002 said on Monday that he would not run this time round. "I haven't the passion for it that is sufficient for me to go 100 per cent - firstly on the hustings to win the leadership, then for five years in unrelenting effort to build this party into greatness," he said.
Mr Quinn - who was leader of the party from 1997 until 2002 - said in his view Mr Gilmore is the best qualified person to lead the party and has the "experience, commitment, energy and passion to undertake this exciting and enormous responsibility.
"The growth and development of the Labour Party in Ireland is important for the achievement of a sustainable society which continues to create wealth, secures employment and respects diversity and equality amongst all of our people," the former minister for finance said.
Mr Quinn added that the task of leadership in a political organisation, particularly when the party is not in power, is difficult and the new leader will need to reach out to and include the many members and supporters who want to see Labour help shape the new Ireland.
He said Mr Gilmore will have his support and the support of Labour councillors in his Dublin South East constituency.
Veteran Labour TD Michael D Higgins, has also announced he will be supporting Mr Gilmore as has Kildare TD Emmet Stagg.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party national executive committee will meet on Saturday to decide on a date for a close of nominations. An estimated 4,000 Labour Party members who have been fully paid up for the last two years will be entitled to vote.
It is expected the party will have a new leader by the end of October.