PDs expect to be in government but maybe under another name
Independents likely too, but not McGrath, Gregory
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern watches the Leinster Senior Football Championship at Croke Park, Dublin
Related Articles
THE Progressive Democrats still expect to have a role in the formation of the next Government.
And Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has also won agreement in principle from three Independents, Jackie Healy-Rae, Beverley Flynn and Michael Lowry to support a Fianna Fail-ledgovernment.
All three Independents are understood to have had personal contact from Mr Ahern.
But the status of Finian McGrath and Tony Gregory is less clear and there is now speculation they will not be included.
Despite the start of negotiations between Fianna Fail and the Green Party, the PDs believe there will still be a role for them in a Government coalition.
Senior figures in the party are also considering changing its name from the PDs, which they believe has acquired a negative media image, to the LiberalDemocrats.
A spokesman for party leader Mary Harney said she had been in regular contact with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael over the past week.
"Both sides are in the hunt for the PDs and we don't have the impression that anything has changed."
Ms Harney took a weekend break to recover from the election campaign but she is due to return for a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
She has been given the authority by her party's national executive to approve a deal with either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, unlike the Green Party, which must call a special conference of partymembers.
She and fellow surviving PD TD Noel Grealish are anxious to get into government to rebuild the party's profile and to secure Seanad seats for former TDs such as Tom Parlon, Liz O'Donnell and Fiona O'Malley.
The Independent TD Michael Lowry said yesterday that he had taken part in discussions with both Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
He confirmed that he had decided to negotiatewith Mr Ahern about forming a stable government through "a cross-partyalliance".
"I did not seek anyposition for personal advancement.
"My main consideration is to ensure delivery on projects of benefit to North Tipperary and recognise in a practical way the exceptional support and loyalty to me by the people of North Tipperary."
But Mr Lowry also said he did not feel Fine Gael could form a government.
Independent TD Finian McGrath travelled from his Dublin North Central constituency yesterday to visit family members in his hometown of Tuam, Co Galway, yesterday.
He said he was making no comment about the state of his discussions with Fianna Fail.
- Michael Brennan and Fionnan Sheahan
