Fianna Fáil MEP Mr Brian Crowley has said he has no interest in contesting the Dáil seat in Cork South-West which Mr Joe Walsh will be vacating at the next general election.
Mr Walsh announced last week that he would be stepping down as Minister for Agriculture next month and leaving the Dáil at the next election.
While Mr Crowley's father, Mr Flor Crowley, was a long-time rival to Mr Walsh in the constituency, the MEP said he wished to remain in European politics.
"I wouldn't have any interest whatsoever. I'm not standing for election to the Dáil. I was elected to stand for Europe as I have done for the last 10 years and I intend to do that," he said.
Sources in Cork South-West believe that Mr Walsh's associate, Mr Dónal O'Rourke, a Fianna Fáil councillor, may contest the seat.
Other possible candidates are the Bandon-based Fianna Fáil councillor, Mr Alan Coleman, and Ms Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, a Bandon town councillor.
The sources said there was no expectation that any member of Mr Walsh's family would stand.
Following Mr Walsh's announcement that he was leaving the Government, there has been intense specualation over the weekend about the position of the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith.
Mr Smith's efforts to remain in the Government when the Taoiseach reshuffles the Cabinet next month will not be successful, according to some Fianna Fáil TDs yesterday. Mr Smith has signalled that he will not be following Mr Walsh out of the Cabinet before the reshuffle and has indicated that his age should not be a barrier to his continuation in office.
But several Fianna Fáil TDs believe the departure of Mr Walsh from the Department of Agriculture suggests that Mr Ahern had already indicated to him that he would not be reappointed in September. The Taoiseach had confirmed that he discussed Mr Walsh's future with him last Christmas, the TDs noted. They said it now appeared inevitable that Mr Smith would be removed from the Cabinet next month because he, like Mr Walsh, came within hours of demotion in the 2002 reshuffle.
"I'd say it's curtains for Smith. A lot of people didn't expect him to get back the last time," said one TD.
"He probably knows it's up," said another. The TD said that Mr Ahern was assembling his team to fight the next General Election and would want to field the strongest team possible in the Cabinet.
Mr Walsh's decision came a fortnight after the outgoing Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, was nominated as Ireland's new European Commissioner. It means the Taoiseach now has two vacancies when he comes to reshuffling his Cabinet.
After sources close to Mr Smith pointed out that he was younger than five members of the incoming EU Commission, a number of TDs said it was clear that he would not take the same action as Mr Walsh. "Smith is a different prospect," said one.
A balanced geographic spread of Ministers would be important for Mr Ahern as he reshuffles the Cabinet, the sources said.
They said it was now expected that Limerick East junior Minister, Mr Willie O'Dea, would take the place of Mr Smith, who is a TD in the adjoining constituency of Tipperary North.
TDs contacted yesterday by The Irish Times said it appeared that neither Mr Smith nor any other Minister who might be vulnerable was lobbying the support of TDs. "If they're being told that they are going, all the lobbying in the world won't save them," said one.
