Several unsuccessful candidates in last May's general election hope to have the results overturned in the High Court.
Mr Nicky Kehoe of Sinn Féin, disabled rights campaigner Ms Kathy Sinnott, and Mr Nicky Kelly of Labour - who lost by small margins - are awaiting the publication this week of the expenditure accounts from candidates in last year's election. The Standards in Public Office Commission is due to publish each candidate's three-week election-campaign accounts on Wednesday.
There is a strict limit on how much a candidate may spend at election. The day before the election last year, the High Court ruled the value of such facilities enjoyed only by sitting TDs, such as Oireachtas stationery and ministerial transport, must be included in expenditure accounts. It is likely many outgoing TDs overspent.
Ms Sinnott, who lost out on a Dáil seat by six votes in Cork South Central Constituency, said yesterday she would "definitely consider running again" if a High Court challenge to overturn the election of Mr John Dennehy of Fianna Fáil was successful. If the result was overturned there would have to be a by-election. Ms Sinnott's electoral agent, Mr Padraic Ó Feinneadh, a solicitor, said he would be examining the figures on Wednesday carefully. Mr Kelly said he had instructed legal advisers to study this week's figures.
Mr Kehoe, who lost out by 74 votes, said his party would also "have a good look" at electoral spending. A spokesman for the Labour Party said it was unlikely the party would seek to have the result overturned on foot of the election spending accounts. "But it is certainly open to Nicky to do so," he said.