There has been growing speculation in Cork that Mr Sylvester Cotter, a Fine Gael councillor on Cork Corporation, may stand as an Independent candidate. His disaffection at the decision of the party leader, Mr John Bruton, to support Mr Simon Coveney in the forthcoming by-election is well known.

At a news conference in Cork some weeks ago, Mr Bruton endorsed Mr Coveney's candidacy and made it clear that, whoever else was in the field from his own party, he would support only Mr Coveney.

Mr Coveney's late father, Hugh, who was promoted by Mr Bruton to the front bench as minister for the marine, was later demoted when it emerged that he had attempted to influence contract arrangements between his own company and Bord Gais.

Mr Coveney became a junior minister, but Mr Bruton always let it be known that his long-term plan was to restore Mr Coveney, a faithful ally, to a full Cabinet post. Mr Coveney died last March in a cliff-walking accident.

The question of whether Mr Cotter will run as an Independent could not be confirmed yesterday.

The other major candidates in the field are: Mr Toddy O'Sullivan, of Labour, a former minister; Ms Sinead Behan, a Cork city solicitor, who will represent Fianna Fail; Mr Peter Kelly, an accountant, who will stand for the Progressive Democrats; and Mr Dan Boyle, for the Green Party, who has been amassing an increasingly substantial vote in recent years.