FG willing to discuss party transfer with PD councillors

FINE GAEL would be "very willing" to give a hearing to Progressive Democrat councillors who were thinking about a possible transfer to the larger party, Enda Kenny told reporters yesterday.

When asked for his feelings about the expected imminent demise of the PDs, the Fine Gael leader quipped: "I would say distraught is probably too strong a word."

On a more serious note he said: "The fact of the matter is that the PDs were born out of jealousy inside Fianna Fáil, and enmity between rival factions in the party. The problem for Fine Gael was that, when the PDs were formed, they did take votes from Fine Gael and seats from the party.

" I am the fifth Fine Gael leader who has had to deal with the Progressive Democrats, and the indications are that they are not going to be around much longer to make their case in the Dáil.

"I would make this point: the lifeblood of any political party is votes and, on the last occasion, in the general election last year, Fine Gael took six seats from the Progressive Democrats. That strangled their lifeline.

"I am glad that those votes have come home to Fine Gael representatives. We are going to hold onto them in the future," said Mr Kenny, who was speaking at the start of the two-day Fine Gael strategy conference in Co Clare.

When asked whether he had a message for the PDs, he replied: "I have. We had one excellent councillor from the PDs who joined the Fine Gael ranks. We are intent on building our forces for the local elections next year, where we made substantial gains the last time, and the European elections - and those persons out there in the PDs who are councillors, if they want to talk to us, we'll be very willing to hear them."

Cllr Mary Mitchell-O'Connor from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown switched from the PDs to Fine Gael last year.

However, Mr Kenny denied that Fine Gael was in contact with other PD councillors, or was putting out its feelers: "Not at the moment.  I don't put out feelers, this is a matter for themselves."

When asked whether he would welcome PD leader Senator Ciarán Cannon, who is thought to have Fine Gael leanings, Mr Kenny replied: "That's a matter entirely for Senator Cannon. If he wishes to make an approach to Fine Gael, that's up to him."