PDs pledge further economic growth

The Progressive Democrat party today promised further economic growth and possible tax cuts if it was returned to government …

The Progressive Democrat party today promised further economic growth and possible tax cuts if it was returned to government for a third successive term.

The party which has eight TDs and five Senators, is debating a wide variety of motions at its National

Tanaiste Mary Harney delivering her opening speech to the PDs National Conference in the South Court Hotel Limerick last night.
Tanaiste Mary Harney delivering her opening speech to the PDs National Conference in the South Court Hotel Limerick last night.

Conference in Limerick including the controversial prospect of a pre-election pact with Fianna Fail.

Tanaiste Mary Harney will aim to galvanise party support in advance of next year's General Election when she delivers her nationally televised leader's address to hundreds of delegates this evening.

READ MORE

Party president and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said the party would set out a clear strategy for the next 12 months at the event.

He added: "The Irish people will be faced with a fundamental choice. Do they want a slump coalition? Do they want to hand the balance of power to Sinn Fein? Or do they want continued prosperity and growth?"

Mr McDowell and Dublin South TD Liz O'Donnell are due to speak in the debate on election strategy.

Another motion, from the PD national executive calls for electronic voting to be abandoned because it says there is nothing wrong with the current system.

Dun Laoghaire TD Fiona O'Malley has also proposed a motion calling the Government to address the 'alarming inaccuracies' in the voting register by introducing a new system based on PPS numbers.

Finance adviser Eddie Hobbs was the guest speaker at the leader's dinner hosted by Tanaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney in the South Court Hotel last night.

Chris McGimpsey of the Ulster Unionist Party and Siptu president Jack O'Connor will address delegates respectively on the Irish language and on the issue of unions.

Health Service Executive chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm and One in Four founder and director Colm O'Gorman will speak on the subject of health service reform.