The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said that if Fianna Fáil organises there, it will not represent a greater electoral threat to Sinn Féin than the SDLP does at present.
Speaking in New York, where he is attending a dinner hosted by the Irish Chamber of Commerce, Mr McGuinness said he welcomed the prospect of Fianna Fáil candidates standing in Northern elections.
"To be honest, I don't think Fianna Fáil would present any stronger challenge than the SDLP does with Sinn Féin," Mr McGuinness said.
"People in the North will make their judgments on the stewardship of the Sinn Féin leadership throughout the events of recent times and the role that we've played in ensuring that the Good Friday agreement was implemented.
"And I don't think people are likely to jump ship from Sinn Féin to Fianna Fáil on account of a Fianna Fáil candidate who may very well turn out to be a former member of the SDLP. We would have no concerns about that at all," he said.
Mr McGuinness confirmed that he and First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley are in talks with the White House about a possible meeting in Washington next month with President George Bush.
A large delegation of US business leaders will visit Belfast next week as part of an investment mission organised by the US ambassador to Ireland, Thomas Foley, and his counterpart in London, Bob Tuttle.
