Harney set to lead PDs into 2008 as party defers contest

Mary Harney is likely to remain as leader of the Progressive Democrats at least until next year after party sources indicated a leadership election planned for this autumn will be postponed.

The Minister for Health had indicated on a number of occasions that she intended to act only as a caretaker until a leader was elected, but is under pressure to remain for longer than anticipated.

A spokesman for the party confirmed yesterday that a leadership election was unlikely to take place in the autumn, as planned.

Some members of the parliamentary party expressed concern yesterday that they wanted to hold on to Ms Harney as leader for as long as possible due to a lack of obvious successors.

"There are a number of names floating around, but we need someone of Mary Harney's calibre at this point in time. The last thing we need is an inexperienced leader coming in over the coming months," said one parliamentary party member.

Another said they wanted Ms Harney to remain as leader, at least until the local elections, to help the party regroup.

The PD parliamentary party met on Tuesday night to formalise the position of Ms Harney as leader. Senator Tom Morrissey, who has declared an interest in being leader, had insisted that Ms Harney's position as acting leader had no authority and was unconstitutional after receiving legal advice.

However, the party unanimously confirmed her position as leader during an hour-long meeting. She will remain until a new leader is elected.

She took on the role on a temporary basis after former leader Michael McDowell stood down after losing his Dáil seat.

Members also agreed to elect the party's sole backbench TD, Noel Grealish, as the chairman of the parliamentary party, taking over from Mr McDowell.

Meanwhile, a six-person commission, established to consider the future rules of the party relating to the election of a new leader, will report to the party's national executive in September.

Up until now Senator Morrissey was the only declared candidate although Colm O'Gorman, who ran for the party in Wexford, had hinted he would stand. Other possible contenders, such as Mr Grealish and Senator John Minihan, who helped negotiate the party's previous programme for government with Fianna Fáil, have not declared.

Under a deal with Fianna Fáil, the PDs will have two seats in the Seanad. It will be up to Ms Harney to select who will fill these seats.

The current members of the parliamentary party are TDs Mary Harney and Noel Grealish and Senators John Dardis, John Minihan, Tom Morrissey, Michael Brennan and Colm O'Gorman.