A former Fine Gael minister of State, Ms Avril Doyle, is expected to allow her name to go forward as a possible candidate in next year's European elections, a move that will have serious implications for the outgoing MEP and former IFA leader, Mr Alan Gillis.
Ms Doyle confirmed yesterday she was interested in seeking a nomination in Leinster and said Fine Gael could win a second seat in the constituency in the June 1999 elections.
"I'm giving serious consideration to the possibility [of contesting the election] and probably will," Ms Doyle said.
But party sources said her candidacy could unseat Mr Gillis, whose national profile has not been high since he went to Strasbourg in 1994.
A spokesman for Mr Gillis said last night that he intended continuing his career in Europe and that his "unique experience and work record" should prevent him losing his seat. The selection convention is not scheduled until the end of this year or soon after Christmas.
While it is possible for Fine Gael to win two seats in Leinster, it would be extremely difficult to take 50 per cent of the four existing seats. The location of Ms Doyle and Mr Gillis in the south of the constituency would also militate against a double victory for Fine Gael.
Along with Mr Gillis, Ms Nuala Ahern of the Green party, Mr Jim Fitzsimons and Mr Liam Hyland of Fianna Fail hold European Parliament seats for Leinster.
Ms Doyle, one of Wexford's two Fine Gael TDs, sought the party's nomination for the presidential election last year but lost by a small number of votes to Ms Mary Banotti. She is understood to have widespread party support for her efforts to secure a seat in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party will meet in special session on Wednesday and Thursday in a Wicklow hotel to discuss policy issues.
A spokesman said the party had been working on 34 policy areas and had distilled these into the social and economic sectors. Mr Richard Bruton and Mr Jim O'Keeffe will address educational disadvantage and social exclusion, while Fine Gael's finance spokesman, Mr Michael Noonan, will deliver a paper on taxation.
Organisation will be examined on Wednesday and policy on Thursday.