Efforts are under way to field an agreed left candidate in the forthcoming Seanad bye-election, triggered by the elevation of Seán Kyne to the Dáil.
Mr Kyne had held a seat for Fine Gael on the Seanad's Cultural and Educational Panel since 2020 before his success in the Galway West bye-election.
A contest to fill his Seanad vacancy is not expected to be held until the autumn.
Leader of the Labour Party Ivana Bacik has contacted both the leaders of the Social Democrats and the Green Party with a view to putting forward an agreed left/Green female candidate.
"I am conscious of the need to ensure stronger representation of women, especially now that the proportion of women elected to the Oireachtas has reduced even further, as of the weekend," Ms Bacik wrote to both Holly Cairns and Roderic O'Gorman.
It is understood Ms Bacik did not write to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald about the need for an agreed left-wing candidate.
However, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has contacted the leaders of Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and the Seanad's Civil Engagement Group in the hope of bringing them into the discussions on a united candidate of the left.
A meeting to discuss an agreed approach to the election could take place as soon as tomorrow.
The electorate to fill vacancies on the Seanad's vocational panels consists solely of TDs and Senators.
It is understood that an informal agreement as part of the Programme for Government will see Fine Gael put forward a candidate for the bye-election with Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators expected to lend their support.
Fine Gael's Dublin-Central bye-election candidate Ray McAdam is predicted to be the party's pick, although a nomination process is likely to open for party members to express their interest in running.
In 2021, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed on mutual candidates in bye-elections for the Agricultural and Industrial and Commercial Panels with Fine Gael's Maria Byrne and Fianna Fáil's Gerry Horkan ultimately victorious.
Whilst the Coalition would have the numbers to defeat an agreed left candidate, Opposition parties hope the privacy of a secrecy ballot may lend itself to a surprise result in a manner similar to President Catherine Connolly's defeat of Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd for the position of Leas Ceann Comhairle in 2016.
