Alan Kelly has been formally nominated to contest the Labour party leadership contest - with two of the party's other five TDs supporting him.
The Tipperary TD is the first to enter the race to succeed Brendan Howlin, who announced last week that he will be stepping down in wake of the party's performance in the general election.
Deputy Kelly has been nominated by two of the party's six TDs - Duncan Smith and Sean Sherlock.
Former TDs Jan O’Sullivan and Willie Penrose are also backing his campaign.
Ged Nash ruled himself out of the contest earlier today, leaving only Aodhán Ó Ríordáin as a potential challenger to Alan Kelly out of the party's six TDs.
Launching his bid, Alan Kelly said a complete rebuild of the Labour party is needed.
He said: "It's going to be through performance, work ethic and pushing the issues that we know that the public wants.
“We might be at a low ebb in terms of parliamentary success but never before has what Labour stood for been more needed.
"The realignment in national politics whereby the traditional larger parties are moving inexorably closer has created a void that honest, hard-working and considered social reformists must fill."
Deputy Kelly has spoken to Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and doesn’t know if there will be a contest - however, he says he would "relish" one.
Deputy Kelly has previously been quoted as suggesting power 'is a drug', but today indicated he no longer believes that.
Alan Kelly asked if he still thinks power is a drug
“No”— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 18, 2020
