The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, is expected to declare his intentions in relation to the Presidency later this week. Should Mr Hume allow his name to go forward on the urgings of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the Labour Party would be unlikely to contest the position and there would be no presidential election on October 30th.
The Labour Party leader, Mr Dick Spring, said yesterday he believed all the declared candidates within Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were beatable, but that Mr Hume was not. He himself would not be a candidate.
Mr Spring will consult members of the Labour Party later this week about the nomination of a candidate, but no decision will be made in advance of Mr Hume's announcement. A list of possible candidates has been drawn up by party officials and - apart from former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Mr Michael D. Higgins - it contains individuals from outside the Labour Party. Any formal nomination will take place at a meeting of Labour's parliamentary party on September 8th.
A reliable party source said that neither Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness nor the broadcaster and journalist Mr Brian Farrell were being actively considered.
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are due to hold their parliamentary party selection meetings on September 11th. The parties already have a number of candidates in the field who are extremely anxious there should be a contest. And the nomination of Mr Hume as an agreed candidate could pose internal party problems for both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and for the leader of Fine Gael, Mr John Bruton.
Former Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Mr Albert Reynolds has signalled his determination to contest the nomination within the party in spite of evidence of Mr Ahern's unhappiness, and he has been canvassing support among TDs and senators for the past number of weeks. Should Mr Reynolds be denied a nomination by the parliamentary party in favour of Mr Hume, his determination is such that he might seek a nomination from four county councils.
That is the route already taken by the supporters of Dana. But as a former Fianna Fail leader, Mr Reynolds would be far more likely to secure such support.
Mr Michael O'Kennedy has also advocated the holding of an election to ensure the new President has a full and popular mandate. But he would step aside if Mr Hume agreed to go forward.
Within Fine Gael, Euro MEP Ms Mary Banotti and Senator Avril Doyle are contesting the nomination and the parliamentary party is expected to make a decision in about two weeks.
A Government source commented that after the general election in June, none of the parties fancied six weeks of electioneering and all the expenses that involved.