Candidates at the Progressive Democrats national conference have voted to create a new post of party president which will be filled by the attorney general, Michael McDowell.
Committing to the party’s future, McDowell said he hoped to act in the role as a chief executive and said he hoped for a PD candidate in every constituency as the party expands.
McDowell attacked the opposition for their record and said that if the Labour Party entered government after the next election the first casualty would be tens of thousands of jobs.
He also defended the wording of the Government’s abortion proposals saying it was honest attempt to deal with the issue. However, Liz O’Donnell interviewed earlier refused to say how she would vote in the referendum and the party’s Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s Councillor, Fiona O’Malley, said she was opposed to the amendment.
Tom Parlon was also introduced to the party as future candidate for Laois Offaly
The party has four Dáil deputies, one of whom (Desmond O'Malley) is retiring, the addition of two high-profile candidates is of enormous importance.
The party has 15 candidates selected and is talking to about five others, including some independent local authority members, with a view to their standing for the party.