The question now is: who will the PDs parachute in next?

AFTER successfully signing up Colm O’Gorman, the question now is who the PDs will approach next.

Given that he was a guest speaker at the PDs’ annual conference in Limerick last weekend, not surprisingly observers yesterday scrutinised the rest of the attendance list for clues.

Other guests included the Health Service Executive’s chief executive Brendan Drumm but, as political analyst and Irish Examiner columnist Noel Whelan wryly pointed out yesterday, he’ll probably be too busy in the year ahead to consider running for office.

Jack O’Connor, general president of SIPTU and a Labour diehard, was another guest. Presumably, though, he’s no fonder of the PDs than Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.

Eddie Hobbs is a different story, however. A guest speaker on Friday, the popular financial adviser and TV presenter would be a dream candidate for the PDs. But, as of yet, he has given no indication of being willing to stand for any party.

Ms Harney yesterday defended the policy of attempting to lure high-profile figures to the party.

“I think politics is changing a lot and people are looking for something different. And, where we don’t have within the ranks of the organisation somebody who is capable of winning a seat, we’re always open to bringing new people on board.”

So where, in particular, are the PDs looking? The party has already selected candidates for 16 constituencies, half of whom will be its eight sitting TDs.

Right now, there are five more constituencies for which it wants to secure candidates: Louth, Wicklow, Clare, Waterford and Dublin South-Central.

Will those candidates be high-profile outsiders like Mr O’Gorman or long-serving party members? “We’re keeping an open mind,” a party spokeswoman said.

The real answer, of course, depends on whether they find other candidates of Mr O’Gorman’s calibre.

However, he does not face an easy task. The PDs have not contested the five-seater Wexford constituency since 1989 and its local organisation is practically non-existent. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael hold two seats apiece there while Labour holds the remaining one.

Born in Wexford, Mr O’Gorman emigrated in 1987 before returning in 2002 to establish the Irish branch of One-in-Four. He was a victim of serial abuser Fr Seán Fortune and settled his action against the Diocese of Ferns three years ago for €300,000.