Two independent TDs attended a Progressive Democrats' conference on Europe yesterday, but both dismissed suggestions that they might join the party.
Ms Marian Harkin from Sligo and Dr Liam Twomey of Wexford said separately that they went to the conference because they wanted to learn about developments on the future of the EU.
Ms Harkin said she would consider in the summer whether to run again in next year's EU election. She secured 47,000 first-preference votes in an unsuccessful attempt to win a seat in the 1999 European election.
Ms Harkin had initially planned to wait until Christmas to decide on the matter, but now believed she should make a decision sooner.
Asked whether she was considering the option of running for the PDs in the election, she said: "I'll be looking at it as an independent; that's what I am. I have no reason, as of now, to be looking at anything else."
However, Ms Harkin added that she would have to look at "various options" before making her decisions. "That doesn't mean anything more than it says. I'm not considering anything at the moment."
The PDs are believed to have privately identified Ms Harkin as an attractive potential candidate for the party. Though the party did not stand in the 1999 EU election, it is keen to capitalise on its success in the general election last May by running candidates in the next European poll.
Ms Harkin was a regional development campaigner before her election. At the PDs' annual conference last weekend, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Tom Parlon, sought to identify a rural constituency for the PDs, as distinct from its urban image.
Ms Harkin said many people had asked about her plans, but she added: "I'm only in politics since last May and I'm only still finding my feet." While she liked working in Leinster House, she said she retained a strong interest in European affairs.
Dr Twomey said he had no plans to run for Europe. He had been invited to the conference by the PDs and decided to attend.
"I don't take much care for what party is holding a conference," he said.
"I'm elected as an independent, and I'm staying an independent. At the same time, it's important to take time to hear other political viewpoints."
In addition to local and national politics, he wanted to inform himself about Europe because it had a big impact on Irish life.
While other TDs had significant information resources within their party system, he said it was for independents to inform themselves.
