When de Valera announced her decision, she said Ahern was happy for her to stay as a minister of state at the Department of Education. The Clare TD's stance has caused considerable annoyance among her party colleagues.

Many Fianna Fail TDs are dismayed that the ministerial position has not been reallocated to one of their colleagues in a marginal constituency, so as to help prevent the loss of a Dail seat.

"This isn't a problem with Sile but Bertie should do something about it, " one TD said.

"We're in trouble in places like Limerick West, Cork SouthWest and Mayo. A junior job in any of those constituencies would make a huge difference.

We'll still get two seats in Clare with or without Sile as a minister of state."

De Valera, who is popular in the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, was a senior minister in Ahern's 1997-2002 government but was demoted to a junior ministerial job after the last election. She has been a TD for Clare since 1987, having been a Dublin TD from 1977 to 1981.

While private mutterings about de Valera's role continue, Ahern will fill the vacancy created by Ivor Callely's resignation when the Dail resumes at the end of this month. Dublin Central TD Sean Ardagh is emerging as the firm favourite for promotion.

"I heard Bertie say Ivor's resignation was his low point of 2005. That's a signal that there will be no more humiliation for Ivor, and so Sean Haughey won't get the job, " one Fianna Fail source said.

Meanwhile, speculation continues in Clare that the county's senior hurling manager, Anthony Daly, will be approached to stand for Fianna Fail at the next general election. Party headquarters postponed a selection convention scheduled for this month so as to review the choice of candidates and their regional spread to maximise Fianna Fail's vote. The party looks set to run four candidates in the constituency . . .

outgoing TD Tony Killeen, Senator Timmy Dooley, former minister Brendan Daly and, possibly, Anthony Daly.