Harris faces ‘toughest decision’ yet over Kate O’Connell selection for Seanad

However, party sources have warned that putting Ms O’Connell into the Seanad would cause “consternation” among some both in the grassroots and Leinster House.

“Half of the PP [parliamentary party] would be furious,” said one politician.

Referring to comments previously made by Ms O’Connell about those who supported Leo Varadkar, the source added: “A lot of people are still very offended by being called choir boys; they haven’t forgotten.”

Other names being put forward include fellow former TD Noel Rock, as well as John Mullins, who recently stood for the party in the European elections but failed to take a seat in Ireland South.

One Fine Gael member suggested that appointing Mr Mullins to the Seanad would be a way to “repay him” for contesting the election for the party.

However, Ms O’Connell remains the favoured candidate, despite the fact that it could cause problems for Mr Harris.

It’s probably his first really difficult decision and his toughest political decision so far.

“He is damned if he doesn’t appoint her and damned if he does,” said one party source.

The source added that if Ms O’Connell is appointed to the Seanad it would particularly annoy the group of recently-elected councillors in her area, including James Geoghegan, who has already been selected to run in Dublin Bay South in the next election.

Others mentioned councillors Emma Blain, who took a seat on Dublin City Council, and Punam Rane, who was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in the recent elections.

“We just got two very strong female councillors elected in that area; appointing Kate would be viewed as a snub to them,” a Fine Gael member suggested.

However, one senator suggested that selecting a councillor would be “very risky” as the person is likely to only be in the Seanad for a short time and there is no guarantee that they would win a Dáil seat having given up a position at local level.