A Fianna Fáil MEP from Co Galway is coming under increasing pressure from senior members of the party to withdraw his candidacy for the European elections on June 11th.
Already under pressure from senior members of the Cabinet to withdraw from the race, Mr Seán Ó Neachtáin has been told by TDs and senators based in the European North-West constituency that they are now backing his rival, Mr Frank Fahey, the former minister.
This follows a meeting last week at which the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, sought support for Mr Fahey from western TDs and senators.
As Fianna Fáil's director of elections in the race for the European Parliament, Mr O'Donoghue is believed to have told the TDs of an opinion poll commissioned by the party which put support for Mr Ó Neachtáin at only 8 per cent.
Mr Fahey had a meeting with Fianna Fáil TDs and senators from the European North-West constituency on Wednesday. Senior party sources said that they had pledged support for his campaign.
Mr Ó Neachtáin has acknowledged that some TDs had told him they were not supporting his candidacy.
He commented: "That is true and that is something I'm appalled at. Where is democracy in that?"
The latest developments follow separate approaches to Mr Ó Neachtáin from Mr O'Donoghue and the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.
But the MEP is refusing to stand down. Co-opted to the European Parliament after Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher was elected to the Dáil in 2002, Mr Ó Neachtáin believes that he has the support of grassroots activists in the party.
Party delegates will be asked to choose between Mr Ó Neachtáin and Mr Fahey at an election convention next Saturday in Roscommon.
Earlier attempts to persuade Mr Ó Neachtáin against running have already led to one postponement of the convention.
Senior Fianna Fáil sources believe that Mr Ó Neachtáin's insistence on seeking a nomination represents a significant threat to the party's chances of securing two seats in the North-West constituency.
Citing the private opinion poll, the sources said Mr Ó Neachtáin's 8 per cent rating suggested that he was unelectable.
However, the persistence of the campaign for Mr Fahey indicates that some in the party fear the convention might choose Mr Ó Neachtáin.
The sources said that a party ticket comprising Mr Fahey and former minister Dr Jim McDaid, whose nomination is unopposed, would have a "fighting chance" of returning two seats for the party.
Mr Ó Neachtáin claims that the opinion poll is irrelevant. "If Seán Ó Neachtáin hadn't a profile a week ago, he certainly does now," he said. He speaks of being hurt and angered by the party's attempts to persuade him to withdraw from the race.
"I had no intention from the beginning of standing down. It's not a democratic way of doing things. Fianna Fáil members on the ground, delegates, have expressed complete satisfaction and confidence in me."
The MEP added: "Why should I stand aside because of a dictate from on high? The people to do this business are the grassroots of the party."
