Amid growing PD concern about its diminishing support, the party's leader, Ms Mary Harney, says she will not "lie down" before efforts to challenge her leadership.
Yesterday she promised a "root and branch reform" of her party, while senior sources said they were "concerned at attempts to undermine her" and "puzzled" at suggestions that the Independent MEP Mr Pat Cox should return to replace her as leader.
A party spokesman said that during the recent Cork South Central by-election - where the Progressive Democrats received fewer than 1,000 votes - party members had indicated they would like to see Mr Cox back in the fold. However, it was "a concoction" to suggest there was a groundswell in favour of his leadership.
"He has not indicated to anyone in the party that he wants to come back," the spokesman said. "Reports that he should come back, not just into the fold but as leader, have come as a huge surprise."
The PDs' constitution requires that the leader be a member of the Dail. It also stipulates that only members of the parliamentary party can select the leader. That grouping currently numbers eight - four TDs and four senators.
Asked last night if he intended to return to the party ranks, former TD Mr Michael McDowell said the issue did not arise. He had allowed his party membership to lapse in March.
"Nobody has asked me [about rejoining]," he added. "I am not thinking of it."
At a meeting of the party's Limerick organisation yesterday, Ms Harney insisted she would "lead this party from the front". She acknowledged, however, that if it were to remain a force in politics it needed to radically reform its structures and rebuild in constituencies where it had previously elected TDs.
"I have no intention, nor have my colleagues, of reducing our input into the decision-making process of this Government," she said.
"Indeed, I think it is important that the focus of the party would be on new policy agendas and not on personalities."
The Tanaiste said she was determined to overcome "current difficulties" and to address the concerns of the membership. Saying her party's problems had been "analysed to death", she said that, rather than be haunted by recent setbacks, they had to focus on the future and, with renewed determination, develop a shared vision of what the party could achieve for the country.