Majority vote of party delegates to decide fate of PDs

Galway West TD Noel Grealish (right) with Bobby Molloy at Tuesday's meeting of Progressive Democrats representatives in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien

MARK HENNESSYLORNA SIGGINS and

THE DECISION on whether the Progressive Democrats should dissolve will be taken by a simple majority when the party's membership gathers next month.

A date has yet to be chosen for the meeting, though members must be given a minimum of a fortnight's notice - but it is not likely to be before mid-to-late October.

The party's constitution, which was last amended by a party conference in 2004, does not provide for the dissolution of the organisation.

However, the constitution does allow the 20-strong national executive to make decisions for any circumstances not envisaged when it was drafted.

It reads: "The national executive may, by resolution, provide for any circumstances not covered by this constitution.

"Any such resolution shall require the endorsement of a majority vote of the delegates at the next ensuing national convention, following which it shall have full force and effect as though it were a clause in this constitution and be deemed to be incorporated in this constitution."

Tempers within the party remain fraught following the four-strong parliamentary party's recommendation to the national executive on Tuesday night that the party should disband.

Accepting that the party has no future, Cllr Cait Keane said: "It was on the sands. Now it is definitely on the rocks. The party is over."

However, a seamless transfer into Fianna Fáil will not occur: "You have to remember that there are three groups in the PDs: the Fianna Fáil rump, Fine Gael sympathisers and pure PDs," said one party member yesterday.

In Galway, three of the party's six councillors in the city and county are unlikely to follow the lead of Galway West TD Noel Grealish and join Fianna Fáil.

However, the councillors there are expected to support the proposed disbandment of the organisation at next month's meeting.

At least three of the six councillors in Galway city and county may run as Independent candidates in next year's local elections, while city councillor Declan McDonnell is expected to join Fianna Fáil.

Mr McDonnell confirmed that he had already been approached by two Fianna Fáil councillors, and said he intends to consult with his constituents on the city's east side.

He said he would be voting to wind up the organisation as "if you don't have a parliamentary party, you don't have a party".

City councillors Donal Lyons and Terry O'Flaherty have indicated that they will run as Independent candidates, while county councillor Jim Cuddy has said he will await the outcome of the next month's decision before commenting.

His colleague on Galway County Council, Connemara-based Tom Welby, said he will stand as an Independent.

Cllr Michael Maher was unavailable for comment yesterday.