Discussions with Mohan, a former chairman of the Bar Council, have taken place in recent weeks. A number of party representatives in the Monaghan end of the constituency have also been interviewed but Mohan remains the strong favourite.

"He's seriously interested.

We now need the local organisation to buy into the idea but they'd be getting a candidate who'd be cabinet material, " one party source said.

The emergence of Mohan as a potential candidate would seem to dampen speculation that sitting independent TD Paudge Connolly will join Fianna Fail. Connolly had been approached by the party in the past. "There have been no direct, formal sit-down talks, " he said this weekend while declining to comment on his future political plans.

There has been renewed speculation about the intentions of several independent TDs since confirmation that Niall Blaney was keen to merge his Independent Fianna Fail group in Donegal North East with the local Fianna Fail organisation.

Representatives from the two sides met with minister Noel Dempsey, who is overseeing the merger, last week. Formal face-to-face talks are due to take place in the next fortnight.

There is continued speculation that Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae could also be attracted back to the Fianna Fail fold. While the independent TD has ruled out the idea, senior party figures are known to have been in contact with Healy-Rae in the past month.

A number of other independent TDs with close links to Fianna Fail this weekend confirmed to the Sunday Tribune that they would not be joining the party ahead of the next general election.

Paddy McHugh in Galway East admitted that there had been "periodic" approaches from his former party but there has been no contact over the last 18 months.

Wicklow TD Mildred Fox said she was "very happy" with her current status.

And James Breen, the Independent TD in Clare, said: "I will not be joining Fianna Fail now or in the future."