PDs call press conference amid speculation of Govt pull-out

The Progressive Democrats are to hold a press conference in the next hour amid speculation that the party has decided to pull out of government.

Party leader and Tánaiste Michael McDowell has been consulting his party colleagues on a possible split with Fianna Fáil, following controversy about the Taoiseach's personal finances.

The PD leadership held a three-hour emergency meeting yesterday evening, after Michael McDowell obtained an overview of Bertie Ahern's financial dealings in the 1990s from Sunday Independent journalist Jody Corcoran.

The party said the information was "highly significant", causing them to consider resigning from this Government.

This is an unprecedented move less than three weeks before the General Election and would cause the current administration to collapse.

The PD parliamentary party is expected to meet later today to discuss the next move - and Mr McDowell will face the media at a Department of Justice press conference this morning.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has no public appearances scheduled for the next 24 hours.