A FIANNA Fail TD for LaoisOffaly, Mr Ger Connolly, has announced that he will not contest the coming general election.
Last night's surprise declaration by the former Minister of State has thrown Fianna Fail's pre election strategy in the constituency into confusion. Only one of the party's three sitting TDs, Mr Brian Cowen, will now go forward for selection at next Saturday's convention.
Mr Liam Hyland, who also holds a seat in the European Parliament, has made it clear for some time that he will not seek to retain his Dail mandate.
Mr Connolly's announcement, at a party meeting in Clonbullogue, Co Offaly, has caused serious difficulties for the party in this five seater constituency where it has traditionally held three seats.
Fine Gael lost a seat in the constituency to Mr Pat Gallagher of the Labour Party in 1992 and it must now have a good chance of securing a second seat.
Progressive Democrats senator Ms Cathy Honan, who got 3,600 first preference votes in the last election, is also seen as a strong contender.
Poll topper Mr Cowen, will be automatically selected at the convention. He is expected to be joined on the ticket by Cllr John Maloney of Mountmellick who took 5,000 first preference votes in 1992.
Over the past few weeks Fianna Fail has suffered badly as a number of long standing TDs decided to retire, thereby opening the door to the possibility of seat losses. Most prominent of these were Mr Gerry Collins in Limerick West and Mr Jim Leonard in Cavan Monaghan.
Mr Connolly (59) was first elected to the Dail in 1969 and served three terms as a Minister of State for the Environment. A loyal supporter of Mr Charles Haughey, he was dropped from government by Mr Albert Reynolds.