Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told Fianna Fáil's national executive that he hopes to see the merger of Independent Fianna Fáil in Donegal back into the main party by the end of summer.
Mr Ahern is also expected to meet a delegation of Fianna Fáil members from Donegal North East to discuss the possible amalgamation of Independent Fianna Fáil with the main party.
The local party has now agreed to take part in an implementation group, headed by Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey, which aims at securing an agreement on the amalgamation, but has sought a meeting with Mr Ahern in advance of any detailed discussions on the merger.
The meeting, which is expected to take place in the coming week, has been described by senior party figures as a "listening exercise" to the concerns of Fianna Fáil members in Donegal, who have complained about a lack of consultation about the merger.
Mr Ahern and other senior Fianna Fáil figures have held detailed discussions with sitting Independent Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney in recent months, and he is believed to be willing to rejoin Fianna Fáil.
Mr Blaney and Fianna Fáil TDs Cecilia Keaveney and Dr Jim McDaid currently hold the three seats in the constituency. The local Fianna Fáil organisation in Donegal is also seeking a commitment from party headquarters that it will run three candidates in next year's election, including a Letterkenny-based politician to replace Dr McDaid, who announced his retirement from politics earlier this year. Dr McDaid has threatened to put his name forward again if the party refuses to have a Letterkenny-based candidate.
The developments come as Mr Ahern received a mandate from the party's ruling body last Thursday to proceed with talks with Mr Blaney and his organisation.
It is believed that Mr Ahern told the meeting that he was personally very committed to the merger going ahead and wanted discussions to be completed by the end of the summer.
The Taoiseach has given a strong personal commitment to overseeing the amalgamation of Independent Fianna Fáil back into the main party.
It split in the early 1970s following the sacking of Neil Blaney, uncle of sitting TD Niall, from the cabinet during the 1970 Arms Crisis.