The gap to be created by Mr Ivan Yates's departure at the next general election has brought about an uncertainty in his Wexford constituency not seen for the past 20 years.
Mr Yates, a TD since 1981, topped the poll at the last election, winning over 10,000 votes at the first count in the five seat constituency. Since 1987 Wexford has been represented by two Fine Gael, two Fianna Fail and one Labour TD.
Election strategists are aware of the public appeal Mr Yates has commanded in the constituency and that many people did not vote for him simply because he was a Fine Gael candidate.
Fine Gael has selected the sitting TD, Mr Michael d'Arcy, and Mr Eddie O'Reilly, who is the former campaign manager for Ms Avril Doyle MEP. Ms Doyle, who lost her Wexford seat in 1996, will not stand at the next election, preferring to concentrate on European issues. The forthcoming departure of Mr Yates leaves the Enniscorthy area unrepresented, and party organisers are anxious to ensure the ground is covered.
Mr Paul Kehoe, chairman of Enniscorthy District Fine Gael, Cllr Larry O'Brien, from New Ross, and former councillor Mr Paddy Kavanagh, from Drumgoold, have all signalled to the party that they wish to be considered for the election.
Fianna Fail said it hoped to win three seats at the next election. Mr John Browne TD and Mr Hugh Byrne TD have stood for election in the constituency since 1982 and 1981 respectively.
Mr Denis Asple, who was on the Fian na Fail ticket in 1996, and received the sixth highest number of votes on the first count, has not declared himself in or out of the race for nomination, and other candidates, Senator Jim Walsh, Ms Mary Doyle, Cllr Gus Byrne and Cllr Malcolm Byrne are also possibilities on the ticket.
The director of elections in Wexford, Mr John Kirwin, said four candidates standing for the three seats was "possible but may not be feasible" as it could split the Fianna Fail vote.
Mr Brendan Howlin TD will be the only Labour candidate standing at the next election. The Progressive Democrats and Sinn Fein, which have not run candidates in the constituency for several years, said they would be on the ticket come election day.
Mr John Dwyer, of New Ross Urban District Council, has been chosen to stand for Sinn Fein, while the PDs said they were still talking to two individuals in the area about the possibility of standing for the party.
The Green Party is to put up a candidate but is unlikely to choose Ms Marie Percival, who stood in Wexford in 1996.
The Workers' Party, which has also had candidates in Wexford in previous years, is considering putting forward a representative.