New PD leader says party can stage major comeback

The new leader of the Progressive Democrats has said the party has the ability to stage a comeback.

Galway-based Senator Ciaran Cannon was confirmed as Mary Harney's replacement this morning after a narrow victory over Fiona O'Malley in the leadership election.

He takes over a party that suffered major losses at the last election, leaving it with just two TDs in the Dáil.

However, speaking at a press conference in Dublin, he said: "Within our ranks, we have people with the passion, the commitment, the talent, the knowledge and the experience to stage a major comeback."