Cannon: I’ve 14 months to rejuvenate PDs
Mr Cannon yesterday said the party would have to succeed at next summer’s local election or European elections. If it did not, it would be the second election failure in a row after last year’s general election and the party would then have to “take a collective decision”, he said.
He defined success as winning 35 to 40 seats in the local elections, an ambitious target given the party currently has just 27 councillors. “I’ll be frank and honest in saying to you if the numbers aren’t increased, we will have to take serious stock of what the future may hold for us.”
He said, however, he was confident the party would succeed. Mr Cannon was announced as the successor to Mary Harney at a press conference in Dublin yesterday morning after he narrowly defeated the only other candidate Senator Fiona O’Malley by 51% to 49%.
Just 1,056 party members — or roughly 40% of the overall membership — voted in the leadership election, but the party chairman Peter Wyre insisted this was a healthy figure. Mr Cannon and Mr Wyre were joined at the press conference by Ms Harney, Ms O’Malley and Noel Grealish.
Ms Harney and Mr Grealish are the party’s only TDs following its disastrous showing in last year’s general election, when the PDs lost six of their eight Dáil seats.
Ms Harney will remain on as Health Minister and the PDs’ only Cabinet member. She said that while senators could serve in Cabinet, she believed the party’s small size excluded it from making a case for Mr Cannon to be added to it.
Mr Cannon, in turn, said that, given Ms Harney’s experience in her portfolio, he would not contradict her on health issues. On all other matters, however, his would be the final say.
He said Mr Grealish — who is believed to have strongly considered joining Fianna Fáil — had committed his future to the PDs until after the local and European elections.
“He [Mr Grealish] will await the outcome of the local elections in 2009,” said Mr Cannon.
He also revealed he had spoken to Michael McDowell, who resigned as party leader after losing his seat last year, about assisting the PDs.
While Mr McDowell had indicated he would not be standing for election again, Mr Cannon said he would be asking him to contribute to policy development.
The new leader acknowledged his public profile was low, but said next Monday, he will begin a tour of PD “strongholds” around the country to meet with both members and constituents.
He also said new policies would be produced in the coming month.
The Taoiseach and Opposition leaders congratulated Mr Cannon on his appointment.
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