PD Trustee calls for party action or dissolution

[David Cochrane]

Newstalk's Political Correspondent Páraic Gallagher has been running an exclusive tonight on a memo produced by Progressive Democrat trustee Paul McKay calling on decisions to be made immediately to save the party.

The letter, which begins with the title "decision time" lists out 13 points that Mr McKay believes need urgent attention.

In the letter, McKay says the PDs in the past months have been drifting "aimlessly and rudderless". Mr McKay continues by asking, in the letter, whether or not the PDs have a future. One of the suggestions the letter points out requiring urgent attention is the "removal of the shackles of government" suggest the party trustee is calling for a more independent PDs outside of Government entirely.

Mr McKay is calling for the PDs to be dissolved and dismantled if there is no 'appetite or passion' within the membership.

Mr McKay will be interviewed by Newstalk's Breakfast Show tomorrow morning. - The show runs between 6.30am and 9.00am.

The letter, exclusively obtained by Newstalk, is available below the fold (click here).

[David Cochrane]

17th January 2008.


DECISION TIME!

Dear Member,

As a senior member of the Party I am alarmed and disappointed at the lack of debate and call to action, within the Party, as to its future or otherwise. There is externally, within the media and elsewhere, a negative view as to the Party’s future. Is it not now opportune for members to express their views in a clear and logical manner as to whether or not the Party has a viable political future?

For the past eight months the Party has drifted aimlessly and rudderless. This has created a dangerous vacuum the consequence of which are now as follows:-

1. A leaderless party.



2. A party trapped and emasculated in a government without a meaningful voice.



3. A seriously depleted and demoralised parliamentary party.



4. A hurt and bemused party membership.



5. A down sized and unsupported party headquarters.



6. Elected party public representatives vulnerable and exposed to political predators.



7. Alignment in the Oireachtas to a questionable political grouping.




Members, and only they, must now address the question; does the Party have a future?

If the answer is in the affirmative then the immediate priorities are as follows:-

8. The election of a new leader now from within the ranks of the wider Party membership.



9. The removal of the shackles of government.



10. A beefed-up Party headquarters, recruitment of new members and the planning of imaginable fundraising activities.



11. Immediate review of Party policy as to its current relevance, always cognisant of the dictum – radical or redundant.



12. Prepare now for upcoming elections/referenda and ensure that the Party has realistic, distinguishable plans and policies in place.



13. Make a pledge to remain politically distinctive and unaligned. (Alignment to those with a track record of “low standards in high places” is to be avoided as they will only expose the Party to electoral disasters).






-2-




If the above are not achievable and/or realistic in the short term and where there is no appetite or passion within the membership to continue, then the Party should be dissolved forthwith. In doing so the good that the Party achieved in the 22 years of its political existence should be acknowledged and celebrated in a meaningful and appropriate fashion. The “Party machine” should be dismantled in an orderly manner and support and assistance should be offered to the Party’s existing public representatives so as to protect and further their political careers.

Now is the moment for decision and action; drift is not an option!

Now is the time for individual members to make their views known. Please do so now by contacting the Party’s offices at 25, South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 by – telephone – letter – email – fax etc.

Thanking you,




PAUL W. MACKAY – TRUSTEE

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS


Telephone No: 01 679 4399
Fax No: 01 679 4757
Email: info@progressivedemocrats.ie

[pfkf1]

so its either the end of the PDs or they pull out of government?

[digoutday]

so its either the end of the PDs or they pull out of government?

neither, they will fudge, the PD's aint got any balls.

[politicaldonations]

Last sting of a dying wasp! A rallying call to FFs lap dogs. What a joke of a party.

[droghedasouth]

No wonder Noel Grealish made his application to join FF this week.

[CookieMonster]

I think the points he makes are clear and were obvious to many.
I don't know much about the inner working of the party but it would seem that for him to take such public action in calling for this that they were not being said within the party or at least not being discussed.

I think it's positive that somebody is taking the lead on this, at least by first identifying the stress points within the party.

But it's hard to say if it will do any good, well hard for me to call it at least. I would like to think that it might and would shift the party back to the path that got them to their high point.

If that means pulling out of government then I think it should happen and I think they would survive it.

[GJG]

It'll all be over by Easter

[bogtrotter]

may the rest in peace...a few years too late for me....

[DaveM]

Whether we have a future as a party or not I fully agree that we should immediately pull out of government. Ahern's answers at the tribunal have been wholly inadequate and it is not something that I and many other party members want to be associated with. If we were to withdraw it would also give a clear opportunity to take stock without the pressure of any external considerations so as we can decide whether the party can have a future.