THE REFUSAL of Progressive Democrats TD Noel Grealish to quell speculation about his future has undermined party leader Ciarán Cannon, a party colleague in Galway West has said.
Cllr Donal Lyons said yesterday he was disappointed at Mr Grealish's refusal to comment about his possible defection to Fianna Fáil.
Mr Grealish, one of the party's two remaining TDs along with Minister for Health Mary Harney, would not comment yesterday about a possible move, other than to say that newspaper reports about his future were pure speculation.
His non-committal comments were criticised by several colleagues, including Senator Fiona O'Malley, who called on Mr Grealish to declare his position and bring an end to speculation.
"We need certainty. We deserve that," she said. "We rely on dedication to the cause of all our members. If that is not there, there is no point in staying on. Let him make up his mind now and be done with it, and let us move on from there."
Fianna Fáil sources yesterday insisted that there had been no formal talks with Mr Grealish.
Mr Lyons said it was his understanding that the Galway West TD had committed himself to the party until next year's local elections. "It's regrettable that the party is going into local elections with this uncertainty when we as local councillors gave commitments until next year's local elections. I am disappointed with him and ask him to give a clear indication if he is staying with the party or not.
"It is going on and on. It is undermining Ciarán Cannon as party leader and undermining the party in general. If he goes to Fianna Fáil, where will that leave Fiona O'Malley and Mary Harney? If he goes and anybody else goes, the party is finished. We will all have to revisit our own positions."
Fianna Fáil and PD sources in Galway West also say that if he does defect, there is a likelihood that a number of councillors could also go, including Jim Cuddy, Declan McDonnell and Terry O'Flaherty, a former mayor of Galway.
However, yesterday local Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahey called for his party's headquarters to consult with the local constituency before any decisions are taken in relation to Noel Grealish and other PDs. "If it is to happen before the local elections it will need to be discussed in terms of candidate selection," Mr Fahey said.
Asked about Mr Grealish affecting his own base in the east of the constituency, Mr Fahey said: "I have no difficulty in relation to Noel Grealish. I welcome him back to the party."
