Mary Harney to Step Down In January/February

Mary Harney was quoted in the Independent today on her future as party leader and when she would like to have the job handed over to her successor;

“Obviously I will continue to assist the party in any way I can. But hopefully the party can now put a mechanism to have a leader in place between now and January-February kind of time-frame.”

Yesterday’s Irish Times reported that John Dardis’ commission will recommend that TDs, Senators and Councillors will be allowed to contest the leadership of the party thus ruling Fiona O Malley in, and Colm O Gorman out, of the frame for the leadership of the party since the commission decided against recommending a two-pronged leadership structure.

The distribution of votes within the electoral college that votes on leader will also be adjusted in light of the low number of TDs. O’Malley has been hinting strongly that she will consider returning to Limerick to win back a Dail seat and is at this stage the only runner, let alone fore-runner, for the post.