Fianna Fáil has postponed tomorrow's selection of European Parliament candidates for the North- West constituency to allow party headquarters to try to manoeuvre its favoured candidates into place.
Party headquarters wants to run two Ministers of State - Galway-based Mr Frank Fahey and Donegal-based Dr Jim McDaid. However, Mr Seán Ó Neachtain, from Mr Fahey's Galway West constituency, who became a replacement MEP in 2002, is refusing to stand down.
A party spokeswoman said last night that the last-minute postponement was to allow more time "to consider the best candidate strategy". However, it is widely seen as a stratagem to allow the building of support for a Fahey/McDaid ticket.
Mr Fahey was unavailable for comment yesterday but it is understood that he has been reluctant to challenge Mr Ó Neachtain, a Spiddal-based constituency colleague who enjoys strong local support.
Despite the wish of party headquarters, Mr Ó Neachtain is adamant that he will not stand aside, a position he vehemently defended in an interview with Galway Bay FM radio yesterday morning. He later told The Irish Times: "My name will be going before the convention. I think it would be very unusual to nominate two candidates from the same constituency. It would be without precedent and a disaster for Fianna Fáil. "
However, the headquarters strategy is to ensure that the convention selects Dr McDaid, based in Donegal in the northern end of the constituency, and Mr Fahey, from the southern end of the constituency.
Mr Ó Neachtain, a former teacher, replaced Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, currently a Minister of State, following his return to domestic politics in the June 2002 general election.
Meanwhile, Dr McDaid, who represents Donegal North-East, confirmed yesterday that his name would go before the convention. Given his geographical base, he is certain of a nomination.
It is understood Dr McDaid was initially reluctant to run, but eventually agreed to requests from Fianna Fáil strategists to do so.
The other two seats are currently held by Fine Gael's Mr Joe McCartin and the Independent, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon. Mr McCartin is retiring and will be replaced by a party ticket made up of the Fine Gael senator, Mr Jim Higgins, from Mayo, and the Clare-based former TD and senator, Ms Madeleine Taylor-Quinn.
Ms Scallon's seat is seen by the political parties as vulnerable to a challenge. However, much could depend on the entry to the race of a strong Independent. The Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Ms Marian Harkin, a candidate who almost succeeded last time, has yet to decide if she will run.
The former Fine Gael MEP for Leinster and president of the IFA, Mr Alan Gillis, announced yesterday that he was withdrawing his name from consideration as a candidate. Speculation about other possible running-mates has centred on Meath-based Lord Henry Mountcharles and the former TD for Laois-Offaly, Mr Charles Flanagan.