Tom Parlon, the outgoing president of the Irish Farmers Association, said yesterday that he wants a position of "real influence" when he enters politics with either the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael in the next election.
The 48-year-old Offaly farmer, who is currently involved in negotiations with the two parties, has decided that he will run for a Dáil seat in Laois-Offaly in the election.
"I know I am taking a chance but I am a man who has always been prepared to take chances and in fairness to the people with whom I am negotiating, I have not made up my mind which of the two parties I will go with," he said.
The former farm leader ruled out the possibility of running for Fianna Fáil or as an independent and he has also decided that he will remain in his own constituency, and not run in North Tipperary, which he said was "not a credible position".
Mr Parlon, who will be replaced as IFA president by Limerick man John Dillon today, admitted that the Progressive Democrat structure in Laois Offaly was weak. But, he said, the PD candidate, Kathy Honan, had picked up 4,500 votes and the former Labour Party activist, Patrick Gallagher, 6,000 votes at the last election.
"There would appear to be 10,000 votes out there in the constituency which do not go to either of the two big political groupings, Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael," he said.
On the other hand, he accepted that he would not be welcomed by the sitting TDs in Fine Gael. Mr Charlie Flanagan is the outgoing TD and Ms Olwyn Enright is seeking to replace her father, Tom, who is retiring. "I am not afraid of upsetting cosy arrangements and I will do what I have to do if I accept the Fine Gael offer," he said.
Last night the Birr district executive of Fine Gael issued a statement stating it had made the party leadership aware of its opposition to the addition of any non-party candidate to the Fine Gael ticket in Laois-Offaly.
The executive has told the leadership that in the event of a third candidate being added to the ticket, such candidate should be selected from among members who were entitled to vote at the convention.
Mr Parlon revealed that he had received offers to move into the commercial world and had been told these offers would remain open until after the election.