An independent councillor in Wicklow is expected to join Fianna Fáil in the coming days amid speculation that he will seek a nomination to stand for the party in the next general election.
However, the move by hotelier Pat Casey has caused unease within Fianna Fáil, with sitting councillors seeking assurances from party headquarters about the general election nomination process.
With the retirement of TD Joe Jacob at the next general election, the five-seat Wicklow constituency will be one of the key battlegrounds for the party in its efforts to retain its two seats.
TD and Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is supporting Mr Casey's application and has told party officials in Dublin that he would be a strong candidate if selected.
The party has been riven by internal feuding in the constituency since the 1980s, and there is still considerable division within the local organisation.
Mr Casey, who owns the Glendalough hotel, has applied to join the Laragh cumann. On Monday he met the six sitting Fianna Fáil county councillors to inform them of his intention to join the party.
A number of councillors have expressed concern about Mr Casey's future intentions and the intention of the national organisation regarding the selection of candidates.
An emergency meeting of the party's county comhairle Dáil cheantair organisation was due to be held last night to discuss Mr Casey's move to join the party.
Three councillors have already expressed an interest in standing, including county councillors Joe Behan and Pat Doran and Arklow town councillor Pat Fitzgerald.
There is concern that the local Fianna Fáil cumann may be allowed to select only one councillor at its local selection convention, with either one or two candidates added by party headquarters.
Mr Casey is expected to formally join the party in the coming week.