Former Independent Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney said last night he would never have joined Fianna Fáil if he had known that former minister Dr Jim McDaid TD was going to seek a nomination to contest the general election for the party in the Donegal North East constituency.
Mr Blaney told The Irish Times it was always his understanding that Dr McDaid was not going to contest the three-seat constituency and he is seeking an urgent meeting with party headquarters to discuss the matter.
Yesterday Dr McDaid confirmed he will be seeking a nomination to contest the election and accused Fianna Fáil of attempting to "shaft" him in its efforts to complete the amalgamation of Independent Fianna Fáil with Fianna Fáil in advance of a selection convention.
Last April Dr McDaid announced he was going to retire from politics, saying the challenge had gone out of his career. In October 2005 he was disqualified from driving for two years after being convicted of drink-driving and dangerous driving.
In July it was announced that Mr Blaney's Independent Fianna Fáil organisation was to merge with Fianna Fáil after a 35-year-old rift going back to the arms trial. This left Fianna Fáil holding all three seats in Donegal North East, with Dr McDaid, Mr Blaney and Cecelia Keaveney.
Mr Blaney said last night he would "not have entertained going back if Jim was running".
Asked if he would abandon the merger and run as an Independent if Dr McDaid is selected to contest the election, Mr Blaney said: "I am not saying that. I have more backbone than that."
He said if the party runs three candidates it would win one seat, with a chance of winning a second. However, if it runs two candidates it will have a great chance of winning two seats.
A Fianna Fáil Dáil ceantair meeting is scheduled for next Sunday and a motion is tabled calling for no further negotiations to take place with Independent Fianna Fáil until an election convention date is agreed.
Last night Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan said the party would be prepared to meet Mr Blaney to discuss any concerns.