Harney: PDs will have new leader within weeks

MARY HARNEY last night insisted the PDs would have a new leader within weeks as she admitted the party was struggling to pick itself up “off the floor”.

The health minister warned rebuilding the PDs as a serious political force would be “very difficult” but was possible with a new person in charge.

The minister returned as acting leader after the party’s disastrous May election result, which saw it shed six of its eight TDs, including then leader and tánaiste Michael McDowell.

Ms Harney made it clear she wanted to step down as quickly as possible.

“I hope the issue of the leadership can be resolved over the next couple of weeks.

“It has been a long time, because the party was very bruised, we were on the floor,” she admitted.

Ms Harney added rebuilding the PDs — which once styled themselves as the mould-breakers of Irish politics — would be “very, very difficult” and she did not feel she was up to the challenge.

“My interest is in the health service and reforming it. I want that to be my legacy,” she told RTÉ Radio.

The only other PD TD, Noel Grealish, has indicated he is not interested in the top job and has dropped heavy hints about switching to Fianna Fáil before the next election.

That leaves the daughter of the party’s founder Des O’Malley, Senator Fiona O’Malley, as the only PD with any sort of national profile.

Meanwhile, Ms Harney insisted that she trusted the Taoiseach in light of an opinion poll showing that a majority of people did not believe his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal.

“It’s a bit like a film — you don’t judge it halfway through,” she said as she urged people to wait for the inquiry’s final report into the Taoiseach’s tangled personal fiances.

Ms Harney expressed disappointment that the tribunal had taken so long to proceed with its work, but pointed out this was partly due to the many legal challenges taken against it.