The Government is to appoint a new chief-of-staff of the Defence Forces at today's Cabinet meeting.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, is due to announce his nomination for the successor to Lieut Gen David Stapleton, who will retire in September, after the meeting. The nomination will then be brought before the President to be ratified.
It is understood that there are four clear front-runners for the post, including the two Assistant Chiefs-of-Staff, Maj Gen Colm Mangan (59) and Maj Gen Carl Dodd (58).
Also on the shortlist are Brig Gen Jim Sreenan (56) and Brig Gen Jim Sunderson (57).