Fianna Fáil Senator Margaret Cox may outline serious concerns about her party's strategy if she is permitted to address delegates at tomorrow's selection convention for the Galway West constituency.
Ms Cox has decided against seeking a nomination for the next general election in the constituency.
She said yesterday that she would prefer to inform her party colleagues first in relation to her decision, but also that she was not certain whether the convention would facilitate this.
If she was not permitted to speak, she would make a statement afterwards, she added.
Ms Cox, who has been outspoken on a series of issues including, most recently, delays in extending the Breastcheck service to the west, missed taking a seat in the constituency by 300 votes during the last general election.
The fifth seat was secured by Progressive Democrats candidate Noel Grealish.
There was considerable tension within Fianna Fáil over a perceived failure by some candidates to honour the vote-splitting strategy within the constituency, which straddles Galway city and the Connemara Gaeltacht.
As a result, Ms Cox did not receive sufficient transfers to take a third seat for the party.
Six candidates are seeking nominations: Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív; Minister of State for Labour Affairs Frank Fahey; Cllr John Connolly; Údarás na Gaeltachta member Val Hanley; Cllr Mary Hoade; and Cllr Séamus Walsh.
