There is no denying the difficulties facing the Progressive Democrats as the party struggles to shake off the effects of the general election and the precipitous departure of both its leader, its deputy leader and its president. Losing six of its eight Dáil seats and securing less than three per cent of first preference votes, the party's confidence, organisation and popular appeal are in desperate need of refurbishment. It would be easy to write an obituary. But the party has bounced back before. In addition, it still has the advantage of a place in Cabinet.
On this occasion, however, the party is in transition as high-profile founding members give way to lesser-known personalities. The fact that its best-known recent recruit and president Tom Parlon should leave politics for a lucrative position in the private sector, rather than take on the task of rebuilding the party, offers small comfort to concerned members.
Support for the Progressive Democrats has been in steady decline since its first election in 1987 when it burst upon the political scene and won 14 Dáil seats with nearly 12 per cent of the popular vote. Two years later, it slumped to five per cent.
But good management, distinctive policies and high profile candidates provided the party with a place in government for 13 of the past 17 years. In that time, it offered to hold Fianna Fáil to account and it benefited from the weakness of Fine Gael. A perceived failure to do the former, along with Fine Gael's resurgence, has contributed to a sharp drop in support.
The party flunked the "radical or redundant" test once posed by Michael McDowell. Having identified Bertie Ahern's unorthodox financial arrangements as a make-or-break issue early in the election campaign - and then backing away from it under pressure from Mr Parlon and others - the party was seen to lose its nerve and voters were alienated.
Double-digit voter support was achieved in only three constituencies. In one of those, Mr McDowell lost his seat and immediately announced his retirement from politics. Liz O'Donnell followed his lead. Tim O'Malley is not expected to stand again.
These are dark days for the Progressive Democrats. The party has made a significant contribution to the economic and social development of the State. Mary Harney, as acting party leader and Minister, is determined to reshape and modernise the health services. That may not be enough.
Come the autumn, when new arrangements for choosing a leader have been put in place, a charismatic and energetic figure will be required to provide a new vision for the party, reorganise constituencies, recruit new members and provide new policies.
It will take tremendous dedication, political imagination and a Lazarus-style performance to make it work. Mary Harney is the only one who can revive the fortunes of the PDs.