PDs to consider if party has a future

THE MEMBERSHIP of the Progressive Democrats will be asked at a special conference in Mullingar next Saturday to approve a change to the party's constitution allowing it to be wound up.

Party sources said yesterday that such a situation was never envisaged, especially once the party became established in the Dáil. The text will give power to the national executive to decide on how to bring the PDs to an end. If the motion is carried, however, it could take several months for the process to be completed.

There has been some speculation that the party's grassroots may decide against the wishes of the parliamentary party and the majority of the councillors that the party has no viable future.

Some members, particularly in the Limerick East constituency of the party's former leader Des O'Malley, have argued that the party should remain in existence. Former junior minister Tim O'Malley has been the most prominent proponent of this position. However, there is a strong consensus in the party's other stronghold, Galway West, that the party is finished, according a senior figure in the constituency.

Galway City councillor Donal Lyons said that two of its councillors had resigned and that Fine Gael had approached several others. He also signalled that he would stand as an Independent in next year's local elections.

"There is no support on the ground any more for the party. A lot of members feel very let down by the party. The Budget was a disaster for the PDs as well as for the Greens and Fianna Fail," he said.

According to party sources, the key speech next weekend will be that of the former leader and founding member, Minister for Health Mary Harney. Ms Harney is expected to outline the impossibility of it reviving its fortunes with only two elected TDs.

Party leader Ciarán Cannon has also conceded the PDs cannot survive. In an interview with the Connacht Tribune, he said "the PDs are no longer politically viable".