LOUTH TD Séamus Kirk and former cabinet minister Michael Woods have emerged as the front runners to fill the position of Ceann Comhairle when John O'Donoghue steps down on Tuesday.

However, the tight Dáil arithmetic means that the possibility of an opposition party TD securing the job cannot be ruled out.

It is understood Labour will not put any of its TDs up for the role which carries a minister's salary and automatic re-election to the next Dáil. But Fine Gael is said to be considering putting forward a name, likely to come from Donegal South-West deputy Dinny McGinley, Mayo's Michael Ring or former party leader Michael Noonan.

The name of food minister Trevor Sargent has also been mooted, despite earlier re­ports that he would not be interested in the role. His seat in Dublin North is far from secure and the prospect of one of its six TDs being automatically returned would be hugely attractive for the Greens.

Given that O'Donoghue will be free to resume as a Fianna Fáil TD again, Taoiseach Brian Cowen can opt to re­place him with a government deputy without diminishing his coalition's voting strength.

Along with Kirk and Woods, the names of Micheál and Tom Kitt, Mary O'Rourke and Seán Ardagh are all being speculated upon.

While it is being assumed that the position will be filled from the government benches, an appointment of a Fine Gael TD to the position would instantly give the government a cushion of two votes.

Given that the government is technically in a minority position in the Dáil – although the three TDs who have lost the FF whip are unlikely to vote against the government on a major issue – and there is a hugely difficult budget to be introduced in December, consideration would inevitably be given to the option of sourcing a Ceann Comhairle from the opposition benches.

If the candidate does come from the government benches, one of the key considerations will be how it affects the party's prospects in the particular constituency in the next general election.