The Fine Gael Executive Council decided at its meeting last night that nominations to become the next party leader will open at 10am this morning and close next Monday at 1pm.
Candidates must be nominated by at least six members of the parliamentary party, which is comprised of TDs, Senators and MEPs.
The Council, which decides on the rules of the leadership election campaign, says before any votes are cast, 3 regional meetings will take place with candidates on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
Votes will be weighted in accordance with the Fine Gael electoral college rules: the 54 members of the parliamentary party account for 65% of the total vote; 20,000 party members accounting for 25%; and 249 local representatives account for the remaining 10% of the vote.
Voting for almost 20,000 eligible party members will take place nationwide at more than 20 polling stations from 2-4 April.
Party members must be affiliated for at least two years to be eligible to vote.
All votes will be brought to a national count centre on 5 April, where they will be verified and then counted.
The result will be officially announced at the count centre on 5 April.
