The Progressive Democrats TD Ms Fiona O'Malley has declared her support for her friend, Prof Ivana Bacik, a Labour candidate in the European election in Dublin.
Ms O'Malley said she had been seeking first-preference votes for Ms Bacik from voters who had told her they would not be backing Fianna Fáil candidates.
Ms O'Malley said she could afford to be magnanimous with her support because the PDs were not contesting the European elections.
"I don't see that there's anything strange because as a political observer I do care about the result," she said.
She is asking Fianna Fáil supporters to back Mr Eoin Ryan TD, whose campaign has the support of the Tánaiste and PD leader, Ms Harney.
"I'd have great time for Eoin, and would like to see him elected. A lot of people would be backing him.
"But, equally, I'm very keen to see someone like Ivana Bacik elected as well," said Ms O'Malley.
In addition to canvassing for PD candidates in the local elections, she was prepared to "sing the virtues" of both Ms Bacik and Mr Ryan.
"I do a bit of campaigning on the side for them. I told them I'd do that for them," she said.
While Ms Bacik has been a prominent opponent of the citizenship referendum and Government policy on use of Shannon Airport by the US military, Ms O'Malley said she did not see any "issue" in her support for Ms Bacik.
"I'm doing it because I know her personally, and I'm very fond of her."
Ms O'Malley said she did not believe it was necessary to specifically inform Ms Harney of her support for Ms Bacik's campaign.
"I don't know if she knows of my friendship with Ivana Bacik. I don't think that I have to run anything by anybody," she said.
While Ms O'Malley acknowledged that she had a different stance from Ms Bacik on the referendum, she said the two shared common ground on "most" social issues, and an interest in sexual health and reproductive issues.
"I got to know her initially in the most recent abortion referendum," Ms O'Malley said.
She was going to be "very judicious" in exercising her No 1 vote in seeking to get both Mr Ryan and Ms Bacik elected.
"I'm very conscious that Eoin is not the front-runner for Fianna Fáil, and I am very keen to see him elected.
"If people say they're thinking of voting Fianna Fáil, I'd say vote Eoin No 1 and give your No 2 to Ivana."
Ms O'Malley said her support for non-PD candidates was confined to the European election.
"I'd never be advocating, in the local set-up, votes for other parties."
She said she believed the Government parties were likely to take "something of a hit" in the local elections next week.
However, she thought younger candidates would be less likely to lose seats.
