Fianna Fail has opted to run two candidates for Europe in Dublin: the outgoing MEP, Mr Niall Andrews, and the Dublin South Central TD and former lord mayor, Mr Ben Briscoe TD.
The decision came as party figures collated the results of a private poll conducted in the fourseat Dublin constituency. It showed the Fine Gael candidate, Ms Mary Banotti, ahead with Mr Andrews in second place.
The poll canvassed the views of 1,000 voters and showed the left vote splintering, with the Independent Dail candidate, Mr Tony Gregory, performing well enough to take a seat.
According to party sources, the survivor of "a real dogfight" would determine the winner of the last seat. The mock ballot paper carried the names of Ms Banotti, Mr Andrews, Mr Briscoe, Mr Gregory, Mr Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael, the outgoing Labour MEP, Ms Bernie Malone, and her running mate, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, the outgoing Green Party MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, and Mr Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party.
The Progressive Democrats have not yet selected a candidate.
Mr Jack Crowe will represent Sinn Fein in the poll on June 11th.
Mr Gregory told The Irish Times last night he was still seriously considering the possibility of seeking a seat in Europe.
"I will make a pragmatic decision on the matter when I know what the political climate is like closer to the election date," he added.
All outgoing Dublin MEPs are seeking re-election. In spite of earlier speculation that Fianna Fail would seek to put a "northside" candidate on the Dublin ticket, 250 delegates at the Fianna Fail selection convention last night opted for Mr Briscoe.
Fianna Fail last held two European Parliament seats for Dublin in 1984 when Mrs Eileen Lemass and Mr Andrews were successful. Mr Andrews has held the seat since that time.
Mr Briscoe failed to win a nomination to contest the last European elections and told last night's convention that he could not express how happy he was to fulfil this ambition in his political life: an opportunity to stand for the European Parliament.
Meanwhile, a Fianna Fail spokesman confirmed that a report was being prepared by the party's Rules and Procedures Committee on how one person tried to cast 65 votes at the Munster European convention in Cork on Sunday. The matter may be referred to the national executive for further scrutiny. The ballot papers, which were not included in the count, were found in a bloc and were all marked in pencil.
Mr Michael Ahern TD topped the poll in the ballot for the substitutes list. Should one of the Munster Fianna Fail MEPs step down at a later stage, possibly to replace the EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, Mr Ahern would be entitled to replace him.