Fine Gael's John McNulty could yet become a member of the Seanad - with Enda Kenny refusing to say if he should turn down the seat if he wins it.
The Fine Gael candidate is considering taking the seat if he's declared the winner of the election - despite having pulled out of the race earlier this week.
"Far be it for me to speculate on what the results of a secret ballot will be," the Taoiseach said this afternoon. after being asked whether a McNulty win would "settle" the question of the Seanad vacancy.
"It's an election, obviously, that when the process begins it can't be stopped."
Later asked in Irish whether McNulty should turn down the seat if he wins it, he said: "Ní féidir liomsa brú do shaighis éigin a chur ar polaiteoir ar bith faoi sin."
This means: "I can't put some sort of pressure on any politician about that."
McNulty is believed to be hoovering up a large number of votes in the Seanad election, despite having pulled out three days ago - with Labour ministers Alan Kelly and Kathleen Lynch among his supporters.
And their own party leader Joan Burton says they're entitled to do so.
"It's a secret ballot, and the members of the Labour Party will exercise their secret ballot," she said.
"A lot of them had already done so before the conversation [on withdrawal] started."
Earlier Today FM revealed that Mr McNulty is considering taking the seat should he win it, having been contacted by many government TDs and Senators with messages of support.
However independent candidate Gerard Craughwell - who originally questioned Mr McNulty's credentials to stand on the Seanad's Cultural & Educational Panel - has said he will take legal advice, and a potential challenge, if Mr McNulty contests and wins the seat.
