Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has directed Fianna Fáil to hold selection conventions by the end of next month in all constituencies. The order comes with conventions yet to be held in 13 constituencies, including Mr Ahern's Dublin Central.
Six people are believed to have been nominated for the convention in Dublin Central, although only three names are likely to go forward to the full convention.
They include Mr Ahern, Senator Cyprian Brady and Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, daughter of sitting TD Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick.
A decision by the party's constituency committee, which is headed by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, has yet to decide whether one or two candidates will be selected to stand alongside Mr Ahern.
Dates have yet to be set for selection conventions in 10 other constituencies, most of which have sitting TDs who are retiring at the next election.
There is also continuing uncertainty regarding the intentions of sitting TDs Dr Michael Woods, in Dublin North East, and Dr Jim McDaid in Donegal North East.
Dr Woods told The Irish Times yesterday he would make a decision when there was certainty about the date of the selection convention and the potential candidates. There has also been uncertainty in Wicklow, where one of the party's two sitting TDs, Joe Jacob, is retiring at the next election.
Earlier this month Independent councillor Pat Casey joined the party and is expected to seek a nomination along with councillors Joe Behan, Pat Doran and Pat Fitzgerald.
Fianna Fáil has arranged to hold separate conventions for Cavan and Monaghan, which are in the same constituency.
One candidate is expected to be selected in Cavan on March 6th, but a date has yet to be set for the Monaghan convention.
Dates have also to be set for Clare and Cork South West, where TDs Síle de Valera and Joe Walsh are retiring.
Other constituencies yet to hold conventions to select Fianna Fáil candidates include Tipperary North, Galway East, Mayo and Laois-Offaly.
There has been continuing opposition to the ongoing reform of the party's structure in Mayo, where the number of cumainn has been cut from 250 to 180.
The high-powered constituency committee, which includes Mr Cowen, party general secretary Seán Dorgan and consultant PJ Mara, also has the authority to recommend the adding on of candidates to the party ticket by the national executive.
A decision has already been made to do this in Galway West, where the selection convention broke up in disarray earlier this month following local protests at the candidate strategy set down by party headquarters.