Independent Cavan-Monaghan TD Paudge Connolly has indicated he will run for Fianna Fáil in the general election if he is given assurances that services at Monaghan General Hospital will be safeguarded by the party in any future government.
He said yesterday he had been approached last week by a senior Fianna Fáil Minister about what kind of assurances he was seeking.
He said the Minister told him after their conversation that what he wanted "sounded achievable", and he expected this person to come back to him this week.
Mr Connolly said he was elected to ensure services at the hospital were maintained.
"That's what I was elected for, and I believe I have to negotiate and try to get that whatever way I can."
He will discuss any assurances he receives at a meeting with his supporters on Thursday night.
A report published in September recommended that all acute inpatient services at Monaghan be suspended as soon as possible. This led to concern locally about the possible further downgrading of the hospital.
However, the Health Service Executive (HSE) says it is committed to implementing the report in the interests of patient safety.
Furthermore, Prof Brendan Drumm, the HSE chief executive, indicated last year that he would not bow to pressure from politicians, lobby groups or vested interests in relation to hospital reforms in the run-up to the election.
Mr Connolly said yesterday he had made his stance clear in relation to support for Fianna Fáil when it seemed last October that the Progressive Democrats might pull out of Government over the controversy regarding payments to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
"I made it clear at that time that if they were looking for me that there was a price tag attached to my support and that price tag was the service delivery at Monaghan General Hospital," he said.
"If Michael McDowell had walked I think I would have been in business at that stage."
Cavan-Monaghan is a five-seat constituency. Fianna Fáil's Dr Rory O'Hanlon, the holder of one of these seats, will be automatically returned as ceann comhairle.
The other seats are held by Brendan Smith (FF), Seymour Crawford (FG), Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF) and Paudge Connolly (Ind).