Simon Harris is set to become the new leader of Fine Gael after he was the sole candidate for the position at the close of nominations this afternoon.
The Wicklow TD is expected to outline his key priorities for the party at an event in Athlone.
He is expected to state that Fine Gael needs to refocus on a policy agenda of enterprise, equality of opportunity, integrity and security.
The remarks will be made at the Fine Gael selection convention for the Midlands-North West constituency for the European Parliament.
It is understood that Mr Harris will not be making any final decisions on Cabinet appointments until the Dáil returns on 9 April.
However, it is known that Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will be the Fine Gael deputy leader in the shake-up.
Meanwhile Minister Simon Coveney has said that he will be standing in the next general election and wants to remain in Cabinet.
Speaking in Athlone, Mr Coveney said he has been in touch with Mr Harris, but accepts that Cabinet choices are down to the new Fine Gael leader.
He said he did not want to add to the speculation by continuing to talk about the matter.
“I think this is going to be a really good change for Fine Gael,” Simon Coveney said.
“It’s an opportunity for renewal, for new talent to emerge in the party. And I think Simon’s going to manage that really well.”
Mr Coveney said Fine Gael would be open to the Oireachtas returning earlier than 9 April to vote Simon Harris in as Taoiseach.
However, he said it would probably be unreasonable to ask TDs to come back when they would have made Easter plans.
Speculation is increasing that Minister of State Peter Burke is the person most likely to be elevated to Cabinet.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Mr Burke said he does not think “anyone who puts themselves forward” in politics “would not like to be in Cabinet”.
However, Mr Burke repeatedly said he would not go into “speculation”, but when asked if he would like to be promoted to a full cabinet position, he said that any TD would have an interest in such a role.
Deputy Burke described Mr Harris as “a man of the progressive centre”, and said that in his view he has made a number of important calls.
Mr Harris’ supporters have been saying in recent days that he will tilt the party back towards its traditional base.
It is expected he will stress that while a strong economy is critical, it must also deliver for businesspeople, workers and farmers – and they must see how that progress provides a future for their children.
A major objective for Mr Harris will be to explain how he intends to prioritise supporting families, small businesses, law and order, making work pay, and education.
On security, a long-standing policy focus for Fine Gael, Mr Harris will articulate that it does not just mean security as a nation, but also for individuals and for families – whether that means people buying their own homes, receiving care when they need it or an improved health service.
He will say that Fine Gael, under his leadership, will fight against what he terms “the populism of empty promises and deliberate polarisation” while at the same time the party resets, reconnects and renews its commitment to the public.
Harris should call for election, says Bacik
Ivana Bacik said that she wanted to see urgent action on housing.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said that she wished Mr Harris well as Fine Gael leader, but said that Leo Varadkar’s decision to leave was “the ultimate vote of no confidence in his own government” and it took everyone by surprise.
“I have put it to Simon Harris now, if he has confidence in his Government and that it will be re-elected, he should call a general election now,” she said on RTÉ’s The Week In Politics.
She added that she wanted to see urgent action now on housing and the key thing is setting the target.
Ms Bacik also said that the Government needed to do more for renters rights and to scale up house building now.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has called on Mr Harris to abandon the Government’s hate speech legislation, ditch plans for the late night sale of alcohol and move the party away from “left wing” policies.
Top of page picture: Trade union leader Jim Larkin statue in O’Connell Street, Dublin.