PD fallout:Minister for Health Mary Harney is coming under increasing pressure to take over as leader of the Progressive Democrats for a fixed period following the sudden resignation of Michael McDowell, who lost his Dáil seat in the general election.
The party will hold a series of key meetings in Dublin tomorrow to review its disastrous performance, which saw its number of Dáil seats drop from eight to two, and to discuss the best way for the party to move forward.
Sources said last night that Ms Harney - who has agreed to take on the duties of party leader on an interim basis following Mr McDowell's resignation - will be asked to stay on a more long-term basis. It is understood she is resisting the move.
Ms Harney stepped down as leader after 13 years last September. She could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Democrats parliamentary party consisting of its two remaining TDs Noel Grealish and Mary Harney, and its five senators John Dardis, Colm O'Gorman, Michael Brennan, John Minihan and Tom Morrissey, will meet in Dublin tomorrow.
There is also a meeting of the Progressive Democrats' national executive and a separate meeting of the party's election candidates and directors of elections scheduled.
Mr McDowell has been notified of the candidates' meeting and of the national executive meeting of which he is a member. It is not known if he will attend either. He is still Tánaiste and Minister for Justice until the new Government is formed in June and has made no public comment since he stepped down as leader.
Last night chairman of the parliamentary party Senator Dardis said it would be logical for the party leader to be a member of the Dáil. "As the senior Dáil politician it would make sense then for Mary Harney to resume the role as leader."
Senator Dardis, and party general secretary John Higgins, said there has been a huge number of messages of support from the public and party members from all over the country in recent days.
"It is very encouraging and there is no question in my view that the party will fold. We will try to work out what is the best way to move forward," said Mr Higgins, who said the party has come back from very poor elections in the past.
Both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will be contacting Ms Harney in the coming days to discuss PD support for a new government.
Party sources said last night that they could not see the PDs doing business with the Rainbow, even if Ms Harney was offered the health portfolio. "One major stumbling block, for a start, would be the position in relation to the co-location of private hospitals on public land," one senior source said.
Yesterday, former PD chairman Senator Minihan was highly critical of Mr McDowell for resigning on count night without discussing the issue or informing his colleagues.
"I don't think it was the right thing to do. I think he should have taken stock and he should have certainly hung around for the next few days and spoken to his colleagues. I don't think it was right that we learned of it through the media because no one, absolutely no one, was aware that that was going to happen."
Senator Minihan - who scored just under 1,600 first preference votes in Cork South Central - said the party under the leadership of Ms Harney had the ability to bounce back from the "implosion" of the general election to become a major force in Irish politics. He said Mr Ahern should ensure Ms Harney returned as minister for health as she was the most "capable" politician for the job.