PDs will not transfer votes with FF in Harney's constituency

THE Progressive Democrats will not operate a vote transfer arrangement with Fianna Fail in the Dublin constituency of its party leader, Ms Mary Harney, despite a call from Mr Bertie Ahern for his party supporters to transfer to the PDs.

The PD and Fianna Fail party leaders have made it clear for some time that vote transfer arrangements between the parties would be decided on the ground by the local constituency organisation. But Mr Ahern confirmed yesterday that he would be seeking Fianna Fail transfers to PD candidates.

However, it emerged that PDs in Ms Harney's Dublin South West constituency, will not be recommending transfers to Fianna Fail.

The decision may be based on Ms Harney's attempt to win a second PD scat in Dublin South West by asking her supporters to give their first preference to her running mate, Mr Colm Tyndall, and then second preference to her.

She has acknowledged that this is a "high risk" approach.

"The message we are sending out is get the rainbow out," a PD spokesman said. PD campaigners in Dublin South West will not be telling voters to give subsequent preferences to Fianna Fail candidates, he added.

Asked about Mr Ahern's statement that he would support Fianna Fail transfers to PD candidates, the adviser said that was for Fianna Fail. "We have our own campaign to run," he added.

The sitting Fianna Fail TD and candidate, Mr Chris Flood, said that while there was no formal transfer scheme he would expect to see transfers taking place. "I don't think there will be any particular arrangement," he said, and he had "no antipathy" to looking for transfers from any party.

A transfer pact with Fianna Fail would not serve the PDs in Dublin South West because it would weaken the chances of Ms Harney's running mate. The first four seats in the five-seater constituency are expected to go to sitting TDs and Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the PDs are all hopeful of winning the fifth on the basis of transfers.