Mr Pat Rabbitte has begun meeting Labour politicians, officers and staff as he prepares to set up a new front bench and backroom team in the wake of his victory in the party's leadership contest.
A number of senior Labour figures yesterday remained deeply unhappy at events which have seen the leadership and deputy leadership pass into the hands of former Democratic Left TDs through a vote of party members. This brings to three the leadership positions held by former Democratic Left deputies - Mr Proinsias De Rossa holds the presidency of the party.
Mr Rabbitte is likely to announce his front bench at his first parliamentary party meeting as leader next Wednesday. Party insiders are particularly keen to see how he balances the desire to put a fresh team in place with the suggestion that he give some key positions to internal opponents in the recent hard-fought campaign.
As leader, Mr Rabbitte will vacate the senior justice portfolio. He could use this for a minimal reshuffle simply appointing someone to replace him or he could take the opportunity to have more extensive changes.
Mr De Rossa yesterday made a significant gesture towards recreating party unity, saying he was willing to give up the position of party president next year in favour of a senior figure from the original Labour Party.
Mr De Rossa said his post had been created to encourage party unity by giving a senior post to DL. He said it should now go to someone from the original Labour Party, a move which itself would encourage party unity. He suggested former leader Mr Ruairí Quinn for the post.
The former Democratic Left leader said yesterday he had been thinking about his position as president since hearing the result of the leadership election.
"I would be anxious to ensure that there is complete unity in the party and if my stepping down as president at the next conference of the party will facilitate that, I would be more than happy to do that," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme yesterday.
He said the election of Mr Rabbitte with Ms Liz McManus as deputy leader was a reflection of the success of the merger between the parties. It would now be important "to elect someone who would represent the unity of the party. My own view of the person who would best fit that role would be somebody like Ruairí Quinn."
Mr De Rossa's term in the post is due to end at the next party conference, probably in May.
Mr Rabbitte also has scope to appoint new advisers and party officials. The post of press director is vacant, while Mr Rabbitte is also likely to appoint his own special adviser. The contract of Mr Ronan O'Brien, adviser to Mr Quinn, ended when Mr Quinn left the leader's post last Friday.