Party’s death knell - We are better off with the PDs

THE Progressive Democrats have always been an acquired taste, but that does not devalue their contribution to public life over the last 22 years.

If they did nothing else, they recognised Charles Haughey for what he was and, in 1992, hastened the end of his corrosive leadership.

They have, however, been too infatuated by the power of the market and often — especially under Michael McDowell — seemed arrogant, petulant and all bark but no bite; all hat and no cowboy.

At times they have struggled to convince the public that their concern for the less well-off was authentic, that is was not a position adopted to complete a marketing strategy. But for all of their quirks and irritations, we owe them a debt because they demanded new standards in public life.

That is why we should not celebrate the news that Noel Grealish, the PD deputy for Galway West, is considering rejoining Fianna Fáil. This acceptance of realpolitik would certainly end any prospect of the party once again rejuvenating itself. It would also be another worrying step towards a single-party state.

You can debate the merits of the PDs until Mary Harney sorts out the health service but what you cannot do is suggest that the country will be better served by the absence of a party that saw corruption and inefficiencies and was outraged. Though we now have had outrage aplenty, it is a kind of short-term outrage — one that creates great heat but forces little change.

If Deputy Grealish feels he has to rejoin Fianna Fáil to be in any way effective then another conduit for that outrage, outrage anyone with even the slightest commitment to a just society would have felt in the last few weeks, will be closed.

Love them or loathe them, we are better off with the Progressive Democrats than we would be without them.