PDs to hold conference to decide future

A special conference will be held next month to decide the future of the Progressive Democrats, it emerged tonight.

PDs leader, Senator Ciaran Cannon said the four-member parliamentary party decided unanimously that the grouping was no longer politically viable.

Senator Cannon, Health Minister Mary Harney, TD Noel Grealish and Senator Fiona O’Malley later conveyed this opinion to a larger gathering of councillors and officials at a hotel in Co Kildare.

Up to 4,000 rank-and-file members must make the final decision on the future of the political organisation at the conference next month.

Rebel TD Noel Grealish, who is speculated to defect to Fianna Fáil, will remain as a PD TD until the conference decision.

Speaking after a “frank and open” meeting with his Oireachtas colleagues, Mr Cannon said: “It is the opinion of the parliamentary party that the Progressive Democrats is no longer politically viable.”