Fine Gael party activists will be denied a voice in electing a new party leader if Mr Michael Noonan resigns on Friday.
On that day new Fine Gael TDs and existing senators will meet for this first time to discuss the party leadership. If Mr Noonan decides to step down immediately, the party's constitution states that a new leader must be elected within 30 days.
However, on Friday week, up to 2,000 public representatives, members of regional councils, branches, district executives and the national executive council, will be asked in a postal ballot if they want a role in electing the leader. The postal ballot was planned by the party's national executive before the general election.
According to the rules, the ballot must take place within 42 days and will not conclude until July 12th. However, if Mr Noonan tenders his resignation on Friday, the new leader will have been elected before that date.
One party source said if that happened, the rank-and-file party members, already reeling from the shock of the general election defeat, would be very angry. Mr Noonan faces a difficult decision, and is believed to be taking soundings from party colleagues. If he opts to delay his resignation, the leadership contest would then either have to take place during a short period in July or else be delayed until September because of the summer break.
Young Fine Gael said yesterday it was demanding that the party wait so there is a wider electorate. Ms Lucinda Creighton, its vice-president, explained that at the party's ardfheis in February, Young Fine Gael proposed an overhaul of the system which elects the leader.
"The proposal which was embraced by a margin of six, by a cross-section of delegates, was vehemently opposed by senior members of the parliamentary party. Now that the party has reached such an astounding watershed in its political history, Young Fine Gael is pushing the senior party to endorse the proposal as it goes to a long-awaited postal ballot for ratification by the members." The change, according to Young Fine Gael, will help to revitalise the party.
"Fine Gael members have given so much over the past number of months and are deeply disappointed with the disastrous performance of the party. Members now want a say in the future of the party, to avoid the same mistakes being made again," said Ms Creighton.
According to the party rules, TDs and senators will also vote on a new party chairman on Friday. The position is currently held by Galway West TD Mr Padraic McCormack.
In the postal ballot Fine Gael members will be asked to vote on 20 amendments, including the motion on election of leader. There is also a proposal that the leader be elected every two years.
In the leadership election the parliamentary party would hold 50 per cent of the votes, an electoral college formed by the party's constituency executives would hold 30 per cent. Their votes would be weighted in favour of constituencies with the most seats.
Cian McCormack adds:
Former Fine Gael Minister Mr Michael Lowry has called for a new energetic leader to lead his former party.
The Independent, who left Fine Gael's ranks in 1996, told The Guardian in North Tipperary the party needed to confront its massive problems and get in touch with people. "It is sad to see Fine Gael, a once great party, humiliated at the polls. They must confront the massive problems they have," Mr Lowry said. "They are not able to connect with the public, they have lost contact with the people." The party needs a young and energetic leader, "if they can find that in their depleted ranks", to lead the party forward.