It is "quite logical" for Fianna Fáil to consider operating in the North because of the dramatically changed political landscape, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has said.
He stressed, however, that "it is not a step we will take in the near future, but we will consider it strategically and carefully".
"As a significant party in Government any moves clearly would have to be carried out with one eye on political stability and equilibrium built into the Good Friday agreement."
Mr Ahern rejected Fine Gael suggestions that there could be a conflict in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and as head of a committee investigating the possibility of extending Fianna Fáil's base into the North.
Fine Gael spokesman Billie Timmins had asked if the Minister "feels comfortable with the decision of his own party to look at extending its base into the Six Counties, particularly as the Minister has been appointed head of the party committee investigating such a possibility".
Mr Ahern said: "When my party was founded de Valera on many occasions stated it should never be a 26-county party. As I recently stated publicly, a Northern unionist mentioned to the Taoiseach that it would not be logical for a party like Fianna Fáil to continue to be a 26-county party if we espouse a united Ireland, which we do."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs added that "from that perspective such a move is quite logical given that the political landscape has changed very dramatically since May 8th".
Many people wished to join Fianna Fáil across the Border, Mr Ahern said.
