Fianna Fáil TD Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn hopes to be reinstalled to the parliamentary party "in the very near future".
She was expelled following her failed libel action against Charlie Bird and RTÉ for their reporting of her alleged role in the NIB scandal.
Following the endorsement by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, of her candidacy at the weekend, Ms Cooper-Flynn said it was now a matter for the Taoiseach to have the whip restored to her.
Ms Cooper-Flynn told local radio in Mayo: "I am a member of the Fianna Fáil party even though I am outside of the parliamentary party as it operates within the Dáil. I am a candidate as I was selected by the Fianna Fáil organisation in Mayo almost 18 months ago."
She also said: "If the Taoiseach wants me to be a cabinet minister, he will have to bring me back into the parliamentary party. There is nothing impossible in politics."
