Voting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party in the leadership election is underway in Dublin.
The votes will be counted this afternoon along with those already cast by Councillors and party members.
Clare’s local members voted last night, with TDs Joe Carey and Pat Breen and Senator Martin Conway casting their votes today.
Barring a major upset it’s widely expected Leo Varadkar will become leader this evening.
The 73 TDs, Senators and MEPs have until midday to cast a vote, and Leo Varadkar’s maintained a strong lead in declarations of these from the start.
Under the electoral college system these votes are the most valuable accounting for 65% of the total.
Members and councillors who’ve voted over the past four nights around the country account for 25% and 10% of the total respectively.
They’ll all be counted this afternoon at Dublin’s mansion house and the declaration of the new leader will be made by teatime.
The new leader will then have to set about talks with Fianna Fáil and the Independents to secure their support in a vote for Taoiseach, likely in the Dáil on Tuesday week.
