‘Parlon propaganda failed to deliver’

THE ‘Parlon Delivers’ propaganda coup on decentralisation cost the Progressive Democrats votes in the local elections, party leader Mary Harney conceded yesterday.

"It was a factor in middle class parts of Dublin. There is no doubt about that," the Tánaiste said.

Ms Harney was speaking ahead of separate meetings by the Government parties to analyse their poor election performances.

Junior Minister Tom Parlon accepted decentralisation was an issue in the elections but insisted it was one of only 10 issues.

Mr Parlon launched a high-profile publicity campaign within hours of the Budget announcement last December boasting he had 'delivered' 1,000 jobs to his constituency.

The party's hopes of making major gains in Laois-Offaly on the back of Mr Parlon's success did not materialise.

Fianna Fáil yesterday continued its meetings arising out of its poor performance in the elections with a five- hour discussion in Leinster House involving 85 TDs and senators.

The meeting was dominated by two long speeches from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who committed himself to travel every "boreen" to revive morale.

The meeting honed in on policy issues where the party had erred in the run-up to the election: the urban/ rural divide, transport and childcare being the most prominent.

A working group will be set up to rebuild the party's organisation, yesterday described as a "shambles" in urban areas by Dublin North West TD Pat Carey.

Government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin, speaking after the meeting, seemed to accept the criticism, alluding to the debate within FF as to the appropriateness of the "old style cumann structure" for urban areas.

In an effort to alleviate backbenchers' concerns, Mr Ahern has also set four hours aside this week to meet individually with TDs and senators. He is expected to meet up to 20 this week, with possibly more meetings next week.

Speaking at the PD meeting in Kildare attended by 90 of the party's 127 local election candidates Ms Harney said the PDs, as the junior coalition partner, were at a disadvantage in the anti-Government vote.

"We did not get as many successful results as we all wanted," she said.

Ms Harney urged the party to redouble its efforts to implement policies on competition, low taxes, public finance, and health, transport and insurance reform.

The PD leader accepted the party suffered from an image problem and needed to tackle the perception that it is a right-wing party.

A spokesperson said that there was strong consensus the party was seen as being "too cosy" with Fianna Fáil and needed to highlight its own achievements.

Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Finance and Public Service Committee will meet tomorrow to decide the details of formal hearings into the decentralisation plan.