PDs set target for next election
The Progressive Democrats will be aiming to win 12 seats at the next General Election, it emerged today.
The party doubled its number of TDs at the 2002 poll and believes a 50% increase is realistic next time around.
Speaking at his party’s annual conference in Cork today, general secretary John Higgins said strategists will be specifically targeting 18 constituencies.
“You’ve got to select the constituencies very carefully and be focused. There are pockets of PD votes out there,” he said.
Mr Higgins admitted the party’s disappointing local elections performance last June was due to a lack of party organisation in some areas.
Meanwhile PD leader Mary Harney ruled any voting pacts before the next General Election.
“A smaller party is much better to contest the election on an independent basis.” she said.
Over 600 delegates gathered in Cork for the conference, which will culminate in Ms Harney’s televised Leader’s Address tonight.
New party TD, Minister of State at the Finance Department, Tom Parlon said he would run for the party leadership if he was asked.
“If I was asked by my parliamentary colleagues to allow my name to go forward, I certainly would of course, and deem it a great honour.”
He claimed the party had recruited 900 new members in the Laois Offaly constituency since 2002 and he didn’t rule out allowing a party running mate to stand at the next General Election.
“If it deemed to be a good electoral strategy, I’d have no problem with it,” he said.
Dublin South TD Liz O’Donnell said the 20-year-old party was as strong as ever.
“We are the most written-off party on the planet. The fact that we’re still here is a credit and a testament to our stamina.”
The former Minister of State also said she believed coalition Governments were effective and popular with the electorate.
“I think that fusion of ideology works very well. People see it as internal checking mechanism to stop bad policy-making being brought to bear on Irish politics.
But she urged politicians to be positive and purposeful about the future.
On transport issues, Ms Harney repeated calls for a privately-run second terminal at Dublin Airport, despite speculation that Transport Minister Martin Cullen wants the Airport Authority to own and operate the facility.
“If there are private resources available to invest in airport terminals, we should avail of those resources.” Ms Harney said.
The party’s Junior Health Minister Tim O’Malley called on the IMO to support the roll-out of 200,000 doctor-only cards.
He said: “There’s nothing wrong with what the Government is doing. The Government runs the country.
“It’s not a breach of contract because we’re going back and increasing the number of cards. The doctors will be paid very well for looking after these patients.”
He added that he expected “huge improvements” in A&E overcrowding in coming months.
He also said he favoured the Statute of Limitations being invoked in the refund of illegal nursing home charges to elderly patients and their families.
