Beginning of the end for the Progressive Democrats

Noel Grealish, the rather lonely figure who comprises the PD back bench these days, has spoken out against the Mahon Tribunal in a bid to make himself some new friends. Mr. Grealish has been previously reported to have held discussions about joining Fianna Fail, and is regarded as being a good fit- part of the FF “gene pool”, if you like. The conventional wisdom appears to be that he will be a Soldier of Destiny by this time next year. So does this outburst represent, as Labour claim, the final ”death rattle” of the Progressive Democrats?

For me, two further pieces of evidence appear to confirm this. First, the defection to Fine Gael of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Mary Mitchell O’Connor last month. If the dwindling grass roots are unwilling to fight it out, there would appear to be little chance that the party can be rebuilt from the bottom up. No party can survive without some semblance of representation at all levels of the political structure. Wendy Hederman, who would probably have run in Michael McDowell’s old stomping ground of Dublin South-East at the next election, also bowed out of politics last year. While it would be doing these ladies a great disservice to speak of rats and sinking ships, the latter part of the metaphor is accurate indeed.

Second, the fact that not one of the parliamentary party wants to lead is a massive vote of no confidence is the party’s future. Mr. Grealish, Ciaran Cannon and Fiona O’Malley have all ruled themselves out, and acting leader Mary Harney’s career is all over bar the shouting (for which read health service reform). Any new leader would have to have not only the appetite for serious graft, but also the national stature to persuade the public that the PDs remain relevant. There is no potential leader who has the remotest chance of achieving this. A raving Lear famously complained of the smell of mortality; the PDs positively reek.

The interview with Mr. Grealish on Morning Ireland is here.