The former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, is to write to all members of his parliamentary party this weekend formally indicating his intention to seek the Fianna Fail nomination for the presidential election.
His move underlines his intention to pursue a nomination irrespective of speculation that the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, is considering allowing his name to be put forward.
The decision of Mr Reynolds to write to Fianna Fail TDs, Senators and MEPs represents the first formal declaration within the party. Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, the other leading figure within Fianna Fail to have indicated an interest, is on holiday and has not yet formally approached her party colleagues.
The prospect of an early announcement from Mr Hume of his intentions in relation to the Presidency diminished yesterday when sources close to him confirmed that he intends to consider the matter further while on holiday from the beginning of next week. As a result, he is not expected to make a statement until the end of the month.
A decision by Mr Hume to declare an interest in securing the nomination would "create quite a flurry" in Fianna Fail since Mr Reynolds was plainly committed to the candidacy, sources in the party said. As Taoiseach, Mr Reynolds worked closely with Mr Hume in advancing the Northern peace process.
According to SDLP sources, Mr Hume "wants to get away so that he can give the matter the consideration it deserves". One source in the party said: "There has been so much speculation, it makes the situation more difficult for him. There are a lot of letters and calls of encouragement from the South."
It is understood that, unless Mr Hume receives the backing of the major parties in Leinster House as an agreed candidate, he will not contest the October election.
Sources in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael yesterday took the view that Mr Hume's delay in coming to a conclusion points to the likelihood that he will ultimately decline to stand for the office and instead remain an active figure in the peace process, particularly as all-party talks are scheduled to begin on September 15th.
It is generally believed that if Mr Hume was tending towards acceptance, he would allow plenty of time for consideration of this before Fianna Fail and Fine Gael convene their proposed selection meetings in early September.
According to SDLP sources, Mr Hume has received positive approaches recently from members of most of the Dail parties. Should he decide to allow his name to go forward, pressure is likely to be exerted on other possible candidates to withdraw.
An election is certain unless Mr Hume emerges as an agreed candidate. Senator Avril Doyle, of Fine Gael, has repeated her determination to secure the Fine Gael nomination to contest the Presidency following her election to the Upper House this week. Ms Doyle and Ms Mary Banotti, the Dublin MEP, are canvassing support among their parliamentary party colleagues.
A senior source in the Labour Party last night said that the party would not look outside its own ranks for a candidate. The former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Michael D. Higgins, remains the only Labour figure interested in the nomination. However, the source said, Labour would support Mr Hume if he decided to stand.