After a poll indicated that Fine Gael divisions could damage the party's chances in Donegal North East, Mr Jimmy Harte, son of former FG deputy Mr Paddy Harte, last night confirmed that he would not run as an independent candidate.
He said he would be supporting the Fine Gael candidates.
The TG4/MRBI opinion poll predicted Fianna Fáil would retain its two seats in the constituency, and the Blaney family would hold on to the third seat it gained in 1997 for Independent Fianna Fáil.
Although the poll, taken between March 28th and April 8th, found an increase in support for both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it seemed as if Fine Gael's internal divisions would prevent it from winning a seat.
The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, came in slightly ahead of his running-mate Ms Cecilia Keaveney, while Mr Niall Blaney, the son of outgoing Independent Fianna Fáil TD Mr Harry Blaney, came in third with about a fifth of the first preference votes.
In carrying out the poll, MRBI used two mock ballot papers to test support for the possible candidacy of Mr Jimmy Harte, a county councillor and son of long-serving Fine Gael TD for the constituency Mr Paddy Harte, who had indicated that he might run as an Independent.
Internal rows in the local Fine Gael organisation was a factor when Mr Paddy Harte lost his seat in 1997 and it seems the party's troubles are not yet over.
The poll, which included Mr Jimmy Harte, found that he would take 8 per cent, drawing votes from five of the seven other candidates. However, his presence in the race would only slightly damage the two Fine Gael candidates, Mr Sean Maloney and Mr Bernard McGuinness, who are both county councillors.
Mr Maloney's selection as election candidate after his defection from Labour proved controversial among some Fine Gael supporters and the poll found that he would take 14 per cent of the vote when Mr Harte was included and 15 per cent when Mr Harte was excluded.
Mr McGuinness' share was 7 per cent with Mr Harte and 8 per cent without him.