The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, has said he believes that Fianna Fáil headquarters is behind speculation that he might run for the party in the European elections.
Mr Brady said he had an "open mind" on the possibility of seeking a nomination in the Dublin constituency. He had a keen interest in EU affairs but had not given the matter any serious consideration.
Speculation within the party about Mr Brady's intentions has emerged since Mr Seán Haughey TD ruled himself out of the contest.
While Mr Brady acknowledged yesterday that he would be regarded as a junior figure in the party, his increasing profile since becoming Lord Mayor is seen as an advantage in the absence of any senior name stepping forward. But, he insisted, that there had been no formal discussion with the Fianna Fáil party about the matter.