Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he expects Beverly Flynn to return to the party.
Mr Ahern also hinted that the Independent Mayo TD - who was expelled from Fianna Fáil in 2004 following her failed libel action against RTÉ - could be promoted to a junior ministry during the lifetime of the Government.
Beverly Flynn. Image: Bryan O'Brien.
"I've had a number of conversations with Beverly Flynn, and I certainly believe that Beverly Flynn will come back into her natural home which is Fianna Fáil," he told RTÉ Radio today.
Mr Ahern said had the "difficulties" had not happened, Ms Flynn would have had a "fair expectation" of being a minister of state.
"She can't do that in the circumstances, but she definitely has a very good future as an office holder," he said. He appeared to suggest Ms Flynn would be promoted during the lifetime of the Government, noting that a review would be held during the middle of its term in office.
"We would certainly like to see her back in Fianna Fáil," he said.
There is increasing speculation that Ms Flynn has given Mr Ahern a verbal committment to support his new Government in return for being given a junior ministry and re-entry to Fianna Fáil at some stage during its lifetime.
The RTÉ bankruptcy case against Ms Flynn will come before the High Court on June 18th. The national broadcaster alleges Ms Flynn has failed to pay any of the total bill of €2,848,088, which it contends is due arising from the libel action of 2001.
Efforts by RTÉ to enforce, via the Mayo county registrar, the costs orders made against Ms Flynn have also failed to yield payments, it is argued.
Ms Flynn, a former financial adviser with National Irish Bank (NIB), had alleged she was libelled in six RTÉ broadcasts in 1998 that reported she, as an employee of NIB, had encouraged or assisted a number of persons in tax evasion.