PDs face rule change to allow non-TDs run for leader
Such a change would pave the way for Senator Fiona O’Malley to succeed Mary Harney as leader in the coming months. The existing rules stipulate that only TDs can lead the party.
But the PDs have just two TDs following their disastrous general election — Ms Harney and Noel Grealish.
Michael McDowell was party leader going into the election, but lost his seat and subsequently retired from politics. The same fate befell deputy leader Liz O’Donnell and party president Tom Parlon.
Given the shortage of senior figures in the wake of the election, Ms Harney was forced to resume her role as leader, but has indicated she has no desire to continue in the position in the long term. Mr Grealish, meanwhile, says he is not interested in the role.
The PDs established the internal committee following the election to consider the rules relating to the leadership and it deliberated on the matter over the summer. The committee’s report was considered by the national executive of the PDs in Dublin last night.
A party spokesman said the report recommended changing the rules so that either a TD, senator or councillor could lead the party. In such a case, Ms O’Malley would be clear favourite to assume the leadership. The party’s only other senator, Ciaran Cannon, has ruled himself out of contention, while the PDs have few councillors with the national profile required to become leader.
In a recent interview with the Irish Examiner, Ms O’Malley said she would “relish” the task of succeeding Ms Harney.
The committee’s report also recommends abolishing the role of party president.
The party also considered a second report, prepared by another internal committee, which focused on devising a strategy for the local and European elections in 2009.
Both Ms O’Malley and Mr Cannon have said those elections will be crucial in determining whether the party has a future.
“I think that will be the critical test for the party,” said Ms O’Malley. “If we have a poor result in that election, I think then we’d have to face the writing on the wall, if you like.”
However, a more immediate problem is one of funding. In the last Dáil year, the PDs’ Party Leaders’ Allowance (state funding based on the number of TDs and senators it has) was more than €510,000. But because of its disastrous election, the party is set to receive only €308,000 in the current Dáil year. The difference of circa €200,000 will represent a serious shortfall for a small party.
