Fiachra Gallagher
Holly Cairns is expected to become the next leader of the Social Democrats, after the Cork South-West TD announced her intention to run for the position on Sunday.
Ms Cairns made the announcement in a tweet: "I’m excited to announce that I am putting myself forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats."
I’m excited to announce that I am putting myself forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats.
— Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) February 26, 2023
Ms Cairns is expected to be elected as leader unopposed, after other prospective leadership candidates pledged their support to the TD.
TD Jennifer Whitmore ruled herself out of the race in a video posted to Twitter shortly after Ms Cairns' announcement.
https://t.co/3sXhdwuEbK pic.twitter.com/hJ1iEqOIa1
— Jennifer Whitmore TD (@WhitmoreJen) February 26, 2023
"I'm delighted to hear that Holly is putting herself forward to leadership of the Social Democrats," Ms Whitmore said.
"I'm here to say I'm putting my full support behind her, I think Holly would make an incredible leader for the party, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter."
TD for Dublin Bay North Cian O'Callaghan also ruled out a run for the position.
"Delighted that Holly is going forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats," he wrote on Twitter.
"Holly will be a fantastic leader and has my full 100 per cent support."
Speaking to Newstalk's On The Record, Mr O'Callaghan said that "if there was a contest", Ms Cairns would win "strongly".
The TD said that he had chosen to support Ms Cairns, and to remain focussed on his role as the party's housing spokesperson.
"For me, I want to focus on the housing area — I'm someone who likes to get deep into a policy area and do as much as I can on it," he said.
"Someone in a leadership role needs to cover a wide range of issues and I think Holly is very well suited to that. In the Dáil we've seen the work she's done in relation to Mother and Baby homes, the work she's done with survivors of those.
"She's been a very strong voice, she's shown real grit and determination, so while I feel I've plenty of other and plenty to do — and I feel the other Soc Dem TDs do as well - that's just not a role I'd see myself doing."
Delighted that Holly is going forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats.
Holly will be a fantastic leader and has my full 100% support. https://t.co/7ca1zW9Zah
— Cian O'Callaghan T.D. 🏳️⚧️ (@OCallaghanCian) February 26, 2023
Commenting on weekend reports of a survey of party councillors, in which a majority indicated a desire for the job, O'Callaghan said: "A contest would be healthy and I'm a person who believes in contests in parties and having those discussions — it's a really good and healthy thing.
"In this situation Holly is a very, very clear, strong frontrunner. I think if there was a contest, she would win and win very strongly. It's not that I don't think the rest of us have different merits and different qualities — it's just that she has a factor in terms of how she connects with people that would be over and above what others have."
Last week, current co-leaders of the party Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy announced they would step down from their roles.
In the wake of the news, Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon ruled himself out of the leadership race.
In an interview with Today with Claire Byrne, Deputy Gannon said he planned to show "leadership within the party" but did not intend to put his hat in the ring.
