Simon Harris is expected to announce his candidacy to replace Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader when nominations open this morning.
A leadership contest is now in the works following Wednesday's announcement that Leo Varadkar is stepping down as party leader and Taoiseach.
Nominations for the next Fine Gael leader open on Thursday morning and close at next Monday afternoon.
The Higher Education Minister, Simon Harris, is the frontrunner to succeed the outgoing Taoiseach.
His main competition is seen to be Paschal Donohoe, who hasn't yet revealed his intentions to enter the leadership race.
Speaking in Dundalk on Thursday morning, Minister Donohoe said, "I think it's all just a little bot too early for all of that.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has ruled herself out. Speaking on LMFM on Thursday morning says she made the decision not to run for any leadership contest a while ago.
"This is a decision I suppose I probably made a year or two ago that if this was to come up in the near future or the immediate future that it's not something that I'd be putting myself forward for.
"So, I never rule anything out in the future. I've always said that I'm ambitious and that certainly hasn't changed and that won't change, but I won't be putting myself forward".
Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, has already ruled himself out. He lost in a previous leadership battle against Leo Varadkar to succeed Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader in 2017.
If Minister Heather Humphreys is nominated and wins the leadership race, Fine Gael would see its first female leader and the country would see its first female Taoiseach.
Leo Varadkar announces he will step down as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach on the steps of Government Buildings 20.03.2024Potential leadership candidates need the backing of at least six Fine Gael TD or Senators.
After all candidate nominations are received, three regional meetings are due to take place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before votes are cast the following week.
Voting by almost 20,000 Fine Gael party members will then take place between April 2nd and 4th at more than 20 polling stations around the country.
The winner is due to be declared on Friday the 5th of April ahead of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on the 6th of April.
The new Fine Gael leader is then due to be appointed Taoiseach following a vote by all TDs the next time the Dáil sits following the Easter break.
