PD report suggests changes in leadership election

A report recommending that Senators and councillors, as well as TDs, should be allowed stand for the post of leader of the Progressive Democrats will be given further consideration at the next monthly meeting of the party's national executive.

The report from a six-member working group headed by Senator John Dardis, also recommends changes in the leadership election system along with the abolition of the post of deputy leader and the position of president of the party.

The national executive was presented with the report on Thursday night but made no final decision on the matter. It will be considered again at the next monthly meeting of the national executive. If adopted, the rule changes would allow Senator Fiona O'Malley to contest the party leadership.

The acting leader, Mary Harney, had made it clear she does not intend to carry on, while the party's only other TD, Noel Grealish, has said he is not interested in the position.

Under existing party rules only TDs have been allowed stand for the leadership, but changes have been forced on the party by the defeat of the former leader, Michael McDowell, in the general election.

The report also recommends changes in the way the leader is elected.

Under current rules, 40 per cent of the votes are cast by the parliamentary party, 40 per cent by councillors and senior party figures and 20 per cent by the membership.

The proposal is that the percentage share of votes cast by the parliamentary party should depend on the number of TDs and Senators in the Oireachtas.

Given that there are currently just four members of the parliamentary party, their share of the votes would be reduced.

Ms O'Malley, the former TD for DúLaoghaire, announced earlier this month that she would "relish" the task of succeeding Ms Harney, but she will have to await the decision of the national executive on the rules before she can formally become a candidate for the post.

The national executive is also considering the report of a second group, chaired by PJ Long of Tipperary, dealing with strategy.

It recommends that the party should focus its attention on rebuilding at local level, with a concentration on the next local elections as it tries to re-establish bases in key constituencies where it has traditionally done well.