The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, has announced that she is stepping down as leader of the Progressive Democrats with immediate effect.
RTÉ News understands that Ms Harney told her political party at a meeting at 3pm that the decision had been her own and that she not been influenced by any issues or individuals.
Ms Harney says she will stand in the next election and wants to stay on as Minister for Health. However, whether she stays on as Minister for Health is a matter for the new PD leader.
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Ms Harney said it would be almost impossible for a new leader not to be a member of the Cabinet.
The Tánaiste explained her resignation by saying that over the summer she had had a lot of time to reflect on political matters and had decided that now was the time for the PDs to elect a new party leader.
She said that, having been elected party leader 13 years ago, she had never envisaged being leader for so long.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One News, Ms Harney said she still expected the government to run its full course.
Speaking at a news conference at the Merrion Hotel this afternoon, Justice Minister Michael Mc Dowell described Mary Harney 'as the most outstanding employment minister in Western Europe'.
He added that Ms Harney was 'second to none in creating jobs for this country'.
Asked whether he would be contesting the leadership election, Mr McDowell said he would be reflecting on that and was making no further comment at this time.
Nominations to succeed Mary Harney close at midday on Monday. So far none of the possible contenders have indicated their intentions.
Mary Harney, Ireland's first female Tanaiste (deputy prime minister), resigned as leader of the Progressive Democrats on September 7, 2006.

The resignation was unexpected. It was believe she would lead the party for another year.Mary Harney said, "It is my wish to allow a successor the opportunity to lead our party into the general election next year.In my judgement, this is now the right time, as we prepare for a new Dáil session and after a period of reflection over summer."

Members of her Parliamentary Party were very taken aback by her decision according to Senator John Dardis.

Nominations for the leadership will close at midday on September 18, 2006. If there are more than one nomination, an election contest will begin. All members of the Parliamentary Party can stand for the leadership. The leader is elected by an electoral college, which is compose of the Parliamentary Party, the party's Councillors and ordinary members.