The Longford branch of Fianna Fáil is to hold a meeting tomorrow to choose a candidate for the general election, amid a row over the imposition of a female representative.

An official convention was due to take place in October - but a directive came from party headquarters that Connie Gerety-Quinn should be selected over Councillor Seamus Butler and Pat O'Rourke without a vote.

The move was part of Fianna Fáil's effort to meet the new gender quotas.

Councillor Butler says the policy is ruining the party.

"It is breaking up the organisation - if Fianna Fáil in headquarters want to ruin Fianna Fáil in Longford and wants to put in a no-hope candidate that is not under any circumstances going to be able to get a seat because they're not known and they've no experience and they've gone back on their word - if you haven't got your integrity you've got nothing" he told Newstalk Breakfast.

However, a spokesperson for Fianna Fáil says Robert Troy and Connie Geraty-Quinn are the party's candidates in Longford-Westmeath for the upcoming election.

They say the National Constituencies Committee has not been formally notified of any meeting in the constituency to discuss alternative candidates.

And any such meeting would not be recognised as it would be outside of the party's rules and procedures.

"We are confident that with Deputy Robert Troy and Connie Geraty-Quinn, Fianna Fáil can be competitive for two seats in the constituency and the campaign to achieve that has already begun", the spokesman added.