Former minister for agriculture Joe Walsh is resisting pressure from Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil headquarters to run again in Cork South West in a bid to retain a second Fianna Fáil seat in the three-seat constituency.
Mr Walsh told The Irish Times: "I have made it clear, time and again, that I will not be a candidate in the next general election. Under no circumstances will I be standing."
Mr Walsh's decision is a blow to Fianna Fáil which was hoping to retain its second seat in the once Fine Gael stronghold. Mr Walsh's decision to retire could open up the way for former Fine Gael TD PJ Sheehan to make a comeback.
Fianna Fáil now holds two of the three seats; Mr Walsh and Denis O'Donovan, a local solicitor who is chairing the committee investigating the Judge Brian Curtin affair. Fine Gael's justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe holds the third seat.
The victory by Bantry-based Mr O'Donovan was at the expense of Goleen-based Mr Sheehan as the tide went out nationally for Fine Gael. However Mr Sheehan (73) has made no secret of his ambitions to return to Leinster House. The feeling locally is that he will win back his seat in Mr Walsh's absence.
Sources close to Mr Walsh have denied that he has been offered the position of ceann comhairle if Fianna Fáil returns to power after the next general election. However, there is no doubting the party desire that it wants him to run again.
Mr Walsh's absence from the ticket could leave the way open for Fianna Fáil to enlist independent councillor Christy O'Sullivan. Another possible running mate with Mr O'Donovan is Bantry-based Fianna Fáil councillor Danny Crowley.
Labour, meanwhile, will be attempting to win back the seat held for several years by the late Michael Pat Murphy until his retirement in 1981. The party's standard bearer next time will be Senator Michael McCarthy from Dunmanway.
