A private poll conducted in the Dun Laoghaire constituency last week has raised the option of the Labour Party running high-profile senator Ivana Bacik on a ticket with leader Eamon Gilmore.

The polling was conducted for an unknown party by a market research company, with those polled being asked to fill in a mock ballot paper that included Bacik's name alongside Gilmore and other expected candidates.

Asked if it commissioned the poll, the Labour Party replied in a statement: "As with all parties, the Labour Party occasionally undertakes polling and as with all other parties we have a policy of neither confirming nor denying any such polling."

Bacik, who contested last year's Dublin Central by-election, is also being considered by Labour as a potential candidate to contest the Dublin South-East constituency, alongside Ruairí Quinn.

However, unless Quinn opts to run for the new mayor of Dublin position, there will be stiff competition to get on the ticket from local councillors such as Kevin Humph­reys.

The presence of Bacik's name on the Dun Laoghaire mock ballot paper suggests the party might also look at the option of the barrister and academic becoming a running mate for Gilmore.

Dun Laoghaire will be fiercely contested at the next general election particularly as it is being reduced from five to four seats. As well as the leader of a buoy­ant Labour Party, the con­stituency is home to two Fianna Fáil ministers – Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews – and Green party TD Ciaran Cuffe.

Last year's local election results also suggest Fine Gael has a real chance of increasing its representation from one TD – Seán Barrett – to two in a constituency that used to be one of its strongholds.

Left-wing independent Richard Boyd Barrett, who topped the poll with over 4,000 votes in the local elections, is also a serious contender, leaving eight can­didates fighting it out for just four seats.

Given Labour's strength in Dublin, Gilmore will be under pressure to deliver a second seat in the constituency. Former education minister Niamh Bhreathnach is still regarded as his most likely running mate. However, local sources say Bacik would also be a very viable candidate for a seat in Dun Laoghaire.