Fine Gael's national executive is expected this evening to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the former TD and senator Mr Liam Cosgrave, over his evidence to the Flood tribunal.
The case of Mr Cosgrave will be raised at the monthly meeting of the 26-member executive, which takes place in Portlaoise, Co Laois.
The executive is expected to refer it to its disciplinary committee.
The party has already said that Mr Cosgrave's tribunal evidence raised concern after it emerged that he had misled an internal inquiry into political donations.
It is concerned about evidence given to the Fine Gael inquiry in 2000 and about the returns which were filed to the relevant State authorities. It said earlier this month that the issues merited referral to the disciplinary committee of the party's national executive.
Should the committee make a finding against Mr Cosgrave, the range of possible penalties is understood to include the ultimate sanction of dismissal from the party. However, it was still unclear last night when disciplinary proceedings against him might start. While it is up to the committee to decide when to sit, the fact that the tribunal is continuing could raise legal complexities if a parallel non-statutory inquiry was initiated. The party does not disclose who sits on the committee.
A TD or senator for 20 years, Mr Cosgrave failed in his campaign for a Dáil seat in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency last year. He is the son of former Taoiseach Mr Liam Cosgrave. His grandfather, the late William T. Cosgrave, was first president of the State's executive council after independence.
Before the election last year, Mr Cosgrave accused Fine Gael of trying to erase the family name when it added a third candidate to the ticket. He has described the party's inquiry in 2000 as "sloppy" and "sinister". The report of the inquiry, chaired by Mr James Nugent SC, said it was unable to come to a definitive conclusion in relation to the payments Mr Cosgrave had received.
It emerged at the tribunal that Mr Cosgrave had received more than £7,000 in election payments and other payments from former lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop.
This contrasted with the sum of £3,000 to £3,500 which he declared to the Fine Gael inquiry.
Mr Cosgrave acknowledged undeclared payments of £1,000 and £2,5000 to the tribunal for the first time earlier this month.
In addition, lawyers for the tribunal revealed that Mr Cosgrave had failed to declare the £2,500 donation under ethics legislation. This is an offence under the Electoral Act of 1997.
