The way seems set for the amalgamation of Fianna Fáil and the Blaney organisation in Donegal North East if party headquarters agrees to a strategy put forward by Fianna Fáil locally.
A Fianna Fáil party meeting in Letterkenny last night asked that a town-based candidate be included in the line-up of candidates contesting next year's general election.
Local activists are furious at what they perceive to be an attempt by party headquarters to railroad through Niall Blaney's admission to the party without adequate consultation with the Donegal grassroots.
Mr Blaney, who is Independent Fianna Fáil, and Fianna Fáil TDs Dr Jim McDaid and Cecilia Keaveney, currently hold the three seats in the constituency. In effect, it has given Fianna Fáil three seats in Donegal North East, because Mr Blaney always votes with the Government.
Dr McDaid told The Irish Times yesterday that he is still not ruling running at the next election, despite his announcement some time ago that he intends to retire to concentrate on his medical practice. "I will put my name forward if Letterkenny is not adequately represented on the ticket.
"The Blaney issue has been handled in a terrible fashion by party headquarters. The first meeting we had with party headquarters was only on last Thursday. Nobody has any problem with Mr Blaney joining the organisation, but we do feel locally that Letterkenny must have a candidate."
If party headquarters agrees to a Letterkenny-based candidate, it is likely to be Cllr Ciarán Brogan, a popular figure locally and a supporter of Dr McDaid's in the past. He will join Ms Keaveney and Mr Blaney. Others in the running for the Letterkenny nomination would be Damien Blake and Terry McEniff.
The constituency will be closely contested, with Fine Gael senator Joe McHugh and Sinn Féin Cllr Padraig MacLochlainn fighting for seats.
A further complicating factor is the decision of Cllr Jimmy Harte, son of former long-serving Fine Gael TD Paddy Harte, to run as an Independent.
Matters could be very different from 2002, when Fianna Fáil secured close on 50 per cent of the vote.
Letterkenny-based Mr McHugh will be a strong favourite to take a seat, particularly if the Government fails to provide some major jobs initiatives in a constituency which has been badly hit on that front in recent years.
Mr MacLochlainn, who polled a respectable 3,611 first preferences the last time, has since been elected to Buncrana town council and topped the poll to win a seat on Donegal County Council.
He may benefit from some defections from the Blaney camp if the Independent joins Fianna Fáil.
It is understood that the militant republican wing of the Blaney organisation is opposed to the now almost certain political reconciliation with Fianna Fáil.
The Blaneys have represented Donegal North East since 1927, with Niall Blaney the third generation of the the family to hold a Dáil seat.
