Fianna Fáil may drop one of the three candidates chosen to run for the party in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's Dublin Central constituency following a review later this year.
The local organisation chose Mr Ahern, Senator Cyprian Brady and Cllr Mary Fitzgerald at a convention held behind closed doors in Mr Ahern's constituency office in Drumcondra.
The convention is the only one to have been organised in such a fashion by Fianna Fáil, which also excluded one of its own party press officers.
Mr Ahern also declined the opportunity to be photographed with his running mates.
Fianna Fáil is under pressure to retain its two seats in the constituency given the decision of Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald to run for the Dáil there.
The decision to run three candidates reflects internal constituency divisions.
Ms Fitzpatrick is the daughter of sitting FF TD Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick, who made it clear privately to Dáil colleagues that he would contest the nomination if his daughter was not given a chance to run.
Senator Brady, who was appointed to the Seanad by Mr Ahern in 2002, has run the Taoiseach's constituency office for many years, and is the brother of Fianna Fáil's 2004 European candidate Royston Brady.
The three were chosen unanimously following the decision of Chris Wall and Cllr Tom Stafford to withdraw their names. The convention was chaired by Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey.
The decision on whether the party should run two or three candidates - it was taken by the party's national constituencies committee chaired by Brian Cowen on Friday - was not disclosed publicly until the convention began.
Last night Senator Brady, speaking to The Irish Times, said the meeting had been told by Mr Dempsey that the final shape of the party's ticket would "be reviewed" later this year.
"However, as far as I am concerned - and the Taoiseach said it as well when he spoke to the meeting - the three candidates are selected, and we will be going all-out to keep our two seats."
Meanwhile, former Green Party Dublin MEP Patricia McKenna will run for her party in the Dublin Central constituency, which is rapidly becoming one of the most competitive in the State.
"The voters recognise Patricia as someone with strong convictions and the courage to follow through on them. Her victory in the Supreme Court in 1995 against the government, when she even put her own house on the line for her beliefs, demonstrates that she is not afraid to challenge even the most difficult of opponents," said Green Party leader Trevor Sargent.
In Tipperary North, Fianna Fáil selected sitting TDs Michael Smith and Máire Hoctor at a convention on Friday night.
Fine Gael's Senator Joe McHugh was selected as the party's sole candidate in Donegal North East last night. Delegates unanimously supported his nomination at the party's selection convention after sitting councillor Jimmy Harte failed to show.
