Seán Gallagher is "actively considering" a second bid at becoming President of Ireland and could announce his intentions to contest the autumn election within the next fortnight.
RTÉ News has also learned that the web domain www.seangallagher2018.com has been registered in recent days.
Mr Gallagher contested the 2011 Presidential Election and came second behind Michael D Higgins.
The businessman was unavailable for comment but sources close to him have confirmed to RTÉ that the issue of contesting the 2018 Presidential Election is "being actively considered at present. He is expected to make up his mind in the coming two weeks".
He carried out a private opinion poll in recent weeks and is looking at the data from that poll as he considers entering the race.
Mr Gallagher would need to secure the support of four local authorities in order to enter the race.
While President Higgins is attempting to secure a second term, a number of prospective candidates addressed Carlow County Council as they attempted to secure the support of that local authority.
It is only after the writ for the Presidential Election is formally moved by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, that local authorities can choose to support a candidate.
Local authorities can only nominate one candidate.
The domain name www.seangallagher2018.com was registered last Wednesday at 1.36pm.
Sources close to Mr Gallagher would not comment on the significance, if any, of this move.
Last month, Mr Gallagher wrote to the mayor or chairperson of all local authorities seeking that they schedule meetings to discuss nominations of presidential candidates.
Back then, a source closely involved with Mr Gallagher's campaign seven years ago said he believed he would play a significant role in this campaign whether he was a candidate or not.
On Twitter, Mr Gallagher said: "It is vital for everyone in public life to facilitate the process by which more candidates are encouraged to come forward to more fully reflect the diverse and changing Ireland we now live in."
In his letter to public representatives, he said "it is an important constitutional function" for them to exercise their right to nominate a presidential election candidate "in the interest of democracy and the widest electoral choice possible".
He added: "To provide sufficient time for this to happen, I would appeal to you directly, to give consideration to formally scheduling an agenda item for your September meeting to facilitate the members of the council giving due consideration to candidates seeking a nomination."
He pointed out that councillors on 26 local authorities exercised this option to nominate a candidate during the 2011 election.
Mr Gallagher came second in 2011 with 504,964 votes or a 28.5% share of the vote, some 200,000 first preference votes behind Mr Higgins, who won 701,101 first preference votes or a 39% share of the vote.
Last December, RTÉ apologised to the businessman and paid him "substantial damages" in a settlement over a tweet read out on a live televised debate during the campaign.
Mr Gallagher began legal proceedings in 2013, seeking a declaration that the RTÉ Frontline programme involving the election candidates was deliberately and unfairly edited, presented and directed by RTÉ to damage his electoral prospects.
Nomination hopefuls address Carlow council
Presidential nomination hopefuls Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman and Kevin Sharkey spoke first this afternoon at the special meeting of Carlow County Council.
Mr Sharkey, who is from Donegal originally, said the presidency had become a home for retired politicians.
He spoke of the need for rural regeneration and said Irish people should be prioritised in Ireland.
Mr Sharkey also defended US President Donald Trump, saying that he had a swagger like John Wayne and that he was no more likeable or unlikeable than any other US president.
Earlier, Mr Duffy said he was confident he would secure nominations from at least four councils.
The meeting was also addressed by Galway man Patrick Feeney, who was present in the chamber from early afternoon.
It was also due to be addressed by Marie Goretti Moylan, however she did not attend.
Kevin Sharkey on why he wants nomination to run for Presidency pic.twitter.com/KEmrUoem2k
— Damien Tiernan (@damienrte) August 15, 2018
Joan Freeman explaining her Kildare connections to Carlow Councillors pic.twitter.com/BywpoM593l
— Damien Tiernan (@damienrte) August 15, 2018
After addressing Carlow council Gavin Duffy believes he will get enough council nominations to allow him to run for presidency pic.twitter.com/zAYNNisNvY
— Damien Tiernan (@damienrte) August 15, 2018
Additional reporting: Damien Tiernan
