PD founder to step down over coalition
But last night the party president, Tom Parlon, said he fully supported the decision for Mary Harney to accept the position of Minister for Health.
Mr Mackay told the Sunday Independent last night that he has already informed Mary Harney - the PDs' caretaker leader - that he is no longer interested in continuing in the role. "It's up to whoever is the new leader of the party, but after 21 years of doing it, I don't wish to serve any longer as trustee. I have already told Mary Harney that. I will stay on as a member of the party," Mr Mackay said.
Mr Mackay sent a letter to Ms Harney last Monday, in which he outlined in the strongest terms his opposition to entering government with Fianna Fail. In the letter, extracts of which were circulated to the PD general council membership last Tuesday, Mr Mackay says it is his "hope and wish" that Ms Harney does not support "Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fail cronies" in forming a new government.
He claims that the PDs are seen as too close to Fianna Fail, and that this closeness had not been to their advantage. "The recent results of the election are a startling and stark witness to this view point," Mr Mackay maintains.
Mr Mackay is scathing in his remarks about the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and other senior figures past and present. "A number of current and former FF office holders, including its present leader, Bertie Ahern, are under investigation by a number of sitting tribunals with regard to financial and planning matters. In digesting the statement of Des O'Neill SC of the Mahon tribunal on May 28, 2007, one is amazed to learn of the level of obfuscation, obstruction by Bertie Ahern and others in supplying documentation and evidence to the tribunal personnel.
"Fianna Fail, unfortunately, has not yet rid itself of the image nor of certain individuals who were acolytes supporting and colluding with Haughey, its former crooked leader."
He notes that the party has yet to issue an "official statement of apology/contrition" on the findings of the Moriarty report, published last December.
Returning to the future of the PDs, Mr Mackay stresses the need to focus on rebuilding itself after the election.
He says the Fianna Fail-led Government may not last for a full five-year term, and as such the PDs should be prepared to offer themselves in support of an alternative administration. "In my view, with the current Dail arithmetic, the 30th Dail may not run its full course of five years. Our party, possibly reinvigorated, may well be able to offer itself in support of an alternative government should a FF-led Government fail to run its full term."
Mr Mackay also points to the "potential revelations and findings of the tribunals coming down the tracks" as a reason why the PDs need to move on from Fianna Fail. Last night, Mr Mackay told the Sunday Independent: "I'm obviously disappointed that we are back in government with Fianna Fail. I think we could well lose focus in trying to rebuild the Progressive Democrats. The party is on its knees. We have to reconstruct, reorganise and re-establish. This isn't the first time I have said this. In 2002, I said we should have gone into opposition. We have had too many near-death experiences in the past. We have virtually had a death experience this time."
Asked if his views were shared by others within the PDs, Mr Mackay said: "There would certainly be a view that we are too close to Fianna Fail, and that we shouldn't be in government with them. It's not a majority view, but it's certainly a substantial minority view.
"I'm disappointed that there was no opportunity to express the views I did express in my letter to the general council, and to get them to come over to my view."
But in another letter circulated to council members, party chairman Peter Wyer asked that Mary Harney be allowed to "make the call" on whether or not the PDsenter government, "given her experience".
Mr Wyer cites the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding the negotiations for government, and the time frame around the completion of the process which could make it "difficult if not impossible to convene an actual meeting of the members of general council".
The general council of the PDs is now expected to meet within the next two weeks, according to Mr Mackay.
- RONALD QUINLAN
