The former Tanaiste and Labour Party leader, Mr Dick Spring, said yesterday he would like to be appointed as a minister after the general election and would serve in a coalition with Fianna Fáil.
Mr Spring said his preference, and that of his party, would be to form a rainbow coalition with Fine Gael and possibly the Greens, but if that was not possible "one would have to look around to see what is available to make a government."
"The question is can Fine Gael and Labour between them get enough seats to form a government on their own, or perhaps with the Greens" he said.
"That would be my preference, and I think it would be the preference of the vast majority of Labour Party supporters."
There have been signs of growing opposition to coalition with Fianna Fáil within the party.
Before Christmas Mr Spring's party colleague, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said that he would not serve in any coalition led by Fianna Fáil.
Mr Spring said a pre-election pact between Fine Gael and Labour warranted consideration and consultation should take place.
"There has been good co-operation between the parties in the Dáil over the last number of months.
"I'm sure that with that co-operation continuing people will think there is an alternative government," he said.
The Labour Party conference last year had given the go-ahead to the party leadership to fight the election as an independent political party.
"That is the way we should fight the election, and then the numbers will decide who is going to form the next government."
It was not the first option or the first preference, he said, to go into government with Fianna Fail.
"I am hoping there will be enough seats on the other side of the equation.
"After the length of time Fianna Fáil has been in Government, and all of the difficulties and travails in the tribunals, I do feel Fianna Fail needs time out of Government for the foreseeable future."
Mr Spring, who was asked on RTE Radio's News at One if he would like to serve in the next cabinet, said he had made it clear to the party leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn, that he was standing on the basis that he would be "available to serve" if the party wished him to do so.
While it might be premature, and presumptuous to give a preference, said Mr Spring, he would like to be appointed minister for enterprise, trade and employment.
Asked about his own constituency and the possibility of the Sinn Féin candidate, Mr Martin Ferris, winning a seat, Mr Spring said there was "no absolute certainty" in Kerry North and it would be a very tight constituency regardless of what occurred.
Depending on the transfers, he said, anything could happen.
The Fine Gael candidate in the constituency is Mr Jimmy Deenihan, while Fianna Fáil, which is being tipped to lose a seat, will be represented by Senator Dan Kiely and Mr Tom McEllistrim.
"My ambition is to get elected, and the people of North Kerry will decide who the other two fellow deputies are," Mr Spring said.