Roscommon senator Eugene Murphy has not ruled out Fianna Fáil entering into coalition with any party after the general election.
The Scramogoe man has confirmed he wants to regain his Dáil seat, which he lost in 2020.
He will put his name before Fianna Fáil's selection convention for Roscommon-Galway, which he expects will be held shortly.
Senator Murphy expects the general election itself will be held later this year - and isn't ruling out a deal with any party afterwards.
"I think that you have to look at every option after the election," he said, when asked about a possible deal with Sinn Féin.
"You have to wait for the people to vote. You have to respect their decision.
"You mightn't like some of the people they elect.
"But you have a responsibility and duty if you are in that situation with the numbers you have gained in the election, and that you are more or less expected to put a government together - you have to talk to everybody.
"You can't exclude anybody, unless something comes up that is completely out of order, in terms of that party or that individual."
