Fianna Fail TD Mr Sean Haughey says he may stand for the European Parliament in next year's elections.
Mr Haughey, son of the former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey, believes the family name will prove an advantage if he does decide to run.
Asked yesterday on RTÉ's Marion Finucane Show about the recent sale of his father's house, Abbeville, in Kinsealy, he revealed that his parents intend to say in the house for the next year.
They hadn't made any decision about what they would do then, he added.
He dismissed speculation that the property would be turned into high-density housing. The purchasers, Manor Park Homes, want to turn it into a golf course with Abbeville as a "feature", he said. The green-belt between Malahide and the city would be protected and the future of the house itself was secure.
Mr Haughey, who along with other family members owns the property, said he didn't know the full details of the contract. He said the sale price - rumoured to be up to €45 million - was subject to a confidentiality clause. He would share in the proceeds but after taxes were taken into consideration, he "wouldn't be giving up the day job".
He described the manner in which the estate was transferred to the ownership of Charles Haughey's children as "fairly routine". There was nothing "unusual or dishonest" about it.
Mr Haughey said he had "mixed views" about the sale of Abbeville. The house and estate had been "part and parcel" of his family life since his parents moved there in 1969 and he knew his father was sentimental about the property.
However, his parents were both in their seventies and getting on, and so it was a "practical decision" to sell the house. He described his father's health as "not too bad".
Denying there was any rift with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, he said he always had "an affinity" with his fellow northside politician.
However, he expressed frustration that, after almost 20 years in the Oireachtas, he had only reached the "dizzy heights" of vice-chair of a committee.
"I feel I've a greater role to play. I understand why the Taoiseach might be cautious, it's a controversial name, but hopefully in due course things might change."
Mr Haughey said Mr Ahern was encouraging him to stand along with Mr Eoin Ryan in the Dublin constituency in the European elections. Even if the constituency were reduced to three seats, he would still "fancy his chances".
Although he was very interested in Europe, and was vice-president of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee, he hadn't yet made a firm decision on the matter. With his wife due to give birth to their fourth child in January, working four days a week in Brussels "wouldn't be ideal". In addition, his electorate would prefer if he remained in Dublin, he said.
The Dublin seats are currently held by Mr Niall Andrews (FF), Ms Mary Banotti (FG), Mr Proinsias De Rossa (Lab) and Ms Patricia McKenna (Green).
However, Mr Andrews and Ms Banotti are retiring next year.
