THE SPECIAL conference to decide the future of the Progressive Democrats will take place in early November, either Saturday November 1st or Saturday November 8th, party leader Senator Ciarán Cannon has told The Irish Times.
It had been originally intended to hold the meeting in October. Mr Cannon saide: "We would prefer probably to have it much earlier, but logistically it's not possible."
The PDs national executive had set up a special subcommittee and was currently seeking a suitable venue.
The national executive would finalise the arrangements early next week, either in a face-to-face meeting or a conference call. There would be only one motion at the conference, the wording of which would be drafted by the executive.
"Once the decision of the members is taken, it is then my job to take that decision on board," Mr Cannon said. The conference would decide whether the party should disband or continue in existence. "We must now plan for both possible outcomes."
About 4,000 members of the party have to be contacted.
A meeting of the national executive last Thursday night was attended by Mr Cannon and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney. The meeting lasted 2¼ hours and a spokesman said the decision to hold the special conference was agreed by consensus.
Galway West TD Noel Grealish was not there.