Senior figures in Fianna Fáil have expressed disappointment with the European election performance of Mr Séamus Kirk, who has so far failed to develop a significant profile for his campaign in the East constituency.
The party is trying to boost the Kirk campaign in the final fortnight before polling day after a number of opinion polls indicated that the Louth TD has little hope of election in the three-seater.
By contrast, his running mate, the Minister of State Mr Liam Aylward, appears set to top the poll or come second.
"There is a general feeling in Fianna Fáil circles that he is running a poor campaign and that it's lacking in lustre or excitement," said one senior party figure yesterday.
"His performance is just not on a par with the performance of the other European Parliament candidates. The vote is way down in that part of the constituency."
But Mr Kirk said such judgments were false.
"I was a bit slow getting started ... but the campaign is clearly gathering momentum," he said while canvassing in Ballivor, Co Meath.
He said he was planning to intensify his campaign, but pointed out it was a fact of life that his speed of movement on the canvass was reduced due to a disability - he has a fused ankle.
He insisted he would be in contention for the third seat.
"If you come back to me in two weeks' time I think you'll have a different picture," he said.
However, Fianna Fáil figures complain Mr Kirk has run a very low-key campaign in a constituency in which attention has focused on the rivalry between the Fine Gael candidates Ms Avril Doyle MEP and Ms Mairéad McGuinness.
As Fianna Fáil seeks to rally its support in northern Leinster, the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, and the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, are expected to move in the coming days into a more prominent role in the campaign.
The Fianna Fáil campaign in the East has none of the inter-party rivalry that divides candidates such as Mr Seán Ó Neachtain MEP and the Minister of State, Dr Jim McDaid, in the North West.
