PD parliamentary party meeting confirms Harney position as leader

The Progressive Democrats last night moved to formalise the position of Mary Harney as leader of the party following doubts raised by Senator Tom Morrissey over the legality of her position.

Mr Morrissey, a leadership candidate for the PDs, had insisted that Ms Harney's position as acting leader had no authority and was unconstitutional after receiving legal advice on the matter.

However, the party unanimously confirmed her position as leader during an hour-long meeting of the parliamentary party yesterday evening, a PD spokesman said. She will remain until a new leader is elected later in the year.

Some senior party members privately expressed anger before the meeting at Mr Morrissey's public intervention, arguing that it caused needless turmoil for a party already reeling from losing six of its eight seats in the general election.

Members also agreed to elect the party's sole backbench TD, Noel Grealish, as the chairman of the parliamentary party, taking over from former leader Michael McDowell, who had chaired meetings until losing his seat in the general election.

Meanwhile, a six-person commission, established to consider the future rules of the party relating to the election of a new leader, will report to the party's national executive in September.

Mr Morrissey is the only declared candidate although Colm O'Gorman, who ran for the party in Wexford, has hinted he may stand.

Other possible contenders, such as Mr Grealish and Senator John Minihan, who helped to negotiate the party's previous programme for government with Fianna Fáil, have not declared their intentions.

Under a deal with Fianna Fáil, the PDs will have two seats in the Seanad. It will be up to the party leader to select who will fill these seats.

The remaining members of the parliamentary party include TDs Mary Harney and Noel Grealish and senators John Dardis, John Minihan, Tom Morrissey, Michael Brennan and Colm O'Gorman.