The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has not completely ruled out readmitting the North Tipperary Independent TD, Mr Michael Lowry, to the party in the future.
Asked at the weekend if he ever saw a future role in Fine Gael for Mr Lowry, Mr Kenny said consideration would be given to every application for party membership.
"But I do not know what Michael Lowry's mind is in terms of his own future in politics," he added, saying he had not given any consideration to the question of a return to the fold by Mr Lowry.
The Independent TD resigned as communications minister from Fine Gael in 1997 when it emerged that he had business dealings with the then supermarket tycoon, Mr Ben Dunne.
Fine Gael failed to regain the North Tipperary seat occupied by Mr Lowry in the last two general elections, losing a huge proportion of voter support to the former minister who has topped the poll as an Independent in his constituency in both the elections of 1997 and 2002.
Mr Lowry has in recent weeks announced that five candidates will run as Independents in the local elections in June.
Among them is the Munster GAA board chairman, Mr Seán Fogarty, who will be running in the North Tipperary County Council elections.
Mr Fogarty was co-opted on to the council when Mr Lowry resigned his seat on the abolition of the dual mandate. He now looks set to retain the seat on the county council in the forthcoming elections.
Mr Lowry is also fielding two candidates in both the Templemore Town Council and Thurles Town Council elections. Among them is his son, Micheál, who will be a candidate in Thurles.
Speaking at the launch of Fine Gael's North Tipperary local election campaign in Templemore at the weekend, Mr Kenny said the party was working hard to ensure Senator Noel Coonan fills the party Dáil seat last occupied by Mr Lowry. Senator Coonan failed to win a seat on his first attempt in the last general election.
Mr Kenny said Fine Gael had targeted North Tipperary as one of the constituencies to win back a seat.
He claimed there would be no cohesive political agenda for as long as there were Independent TDs in the Dáil. "The Independents in the Dáil cannot point to any single decision brought about by their election."
Meanwhile, Mr Kenny has branded as "rubbish" the plan by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to set up forums for councillors to express their views on the health service.