The Progressive Democrats are facing more turmoil, with a Cork county councillor, Mr Peter Kelly, threatening to leave the party unless it develops new policies to reflect the changes in Ireland.
Mr Kelly yesterday criticised the PD chairman, Mr John Minihan, for what he claimed was an "over-the-top attack" on Senator Helen Keogh over her defection to Fine Gael.
A war of words has broken out between the party leadership and Senator Keogh, who announced on Wednesday that she was joining Fine Gael and would seek a nomination to stand for the party in the next general election.
The PD chairman yesterday described Senator Keogh's departure from the party as "dishonourable" and her refusal to relinquish her seat as "outrageous". He said he was "glad to see the back of her because of her opportunistic behaviour".
Mr Minihan continued: "Helen Keogh has not behaved in an honourable manner. When she needed it, she got a helping hand politically and was appointed to the Senate. She has left the PDs to further her flagging political fortunes."
Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE radio yesterday, Mr Minihan added: "She [Ms Keogh] has allowed herself to be used as a pawn in a crude manner."
Mr Kelly said yesterday that if the party failed to respond to the "need for change", he would have to review his position. "I'm not in the process of jumping ship, but if nothing is forthcoming at national level then I will have to examine my conscience".
Mr Kelly, who has been a member of the party since its foundation, was asked to leave it in 1994 after backing Mr Pat Cox MEP, a former party member, in the European election of 1994.
By 1996 he was back in the fold and, in the general election of the following year, was director of elections for the PDs in Cork South Central. He contested the 1998 by-election in that constituency for the seat left vacant by the death of Mr Hugh Coveney of Fine Gael.
Mr Kelly hit the headlines last year when he proposed that Cork County Council introduce a bylaw to entitle those in committed relationships to a place on the housing list, whether they were heterosexual or gay or lesbian couples living together.
In a statement yesterday, the PDs in Dun Laoghaire accused Ms Keogh of being an opportunist who was "happier to display naked political ambition by trying to maximise her electoral chances with Fine Gael".
Ms Keogh said last night that she was disappointed at the "invective" coming from the party. "I think it was the last refuge of the desperate", she said in an interview on Today FM. Referring to comments made on Morning Ireland by Mr Minihan, she said: "John, like the good Army officer he was, is good at following orders."
Ms Keogh said that many PD supporters in Dun Laoghaire had backed her comments on the O'Flaherty appointment. She insisted that outrage over the nomination was still widespread.
She said that some PD supporters had told her they would continue to back her in Fine Gael. Asked if the PDs were "finished", she replied: "That is up to the electorate."