THE Progressive Democrats are confident of winning back a seat in Waterford, the party leader, Ms Mary Harney, claimed yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the intention of former Fine Gael senator, Ms Katharine Bulbulia, to run for the Progressive Democrats in Waterford, Ms Harney said the PDs had substantial support in the constituency.
With a candidate of Katharine Bulbulia's undoubted calibre flying the flag, we know that we will take this seat again in election 97," she maintained.
She described Ms Bulbulia as an outstanding member of the Oireachtas who took her politics seriously and had done an impressive job in the Waterford Chamber of Commerce.
At the last election, Mr Martin Cullen was elected for the PDs, but he later joined Fianna Fail.
In her address, Ms Bulbulia said her decision to join the ranks of the PDs was because of her unbounded admiration for Ms Harney and "her clear vision of what this country should be".
"My decision to re enter politics was taken after very serious consideration and consultation with Waterford people of sound, judgment and experience," she said.
However, she added, she was completely taken aback by the unprompted response to the announcement that she was standing down from her position as executive director of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce.
Ms Bulbulia went on to say that she believed Waterford was ready for political change and that the electorate would wish to support a Progressive Democrat candidate who has served a long and visible apprenticeship to Waterford city, both in politics and with the private and voluntary sector.
"While we currently enjoy a period of economic boom, there is a deeply worrying lack of social cohesion which, if left to the failed policies of dependency, has the potential to create a social nightmare in Waterford as well as in all the other major urban centres in Ireland," she concluded.