The PDs would adopt a set of rules to create the opportunity for a rebirth at a national conference/ launch meeting in Cork in November. Those rules would allow for a transformation process between now and the next general election.

Central to the short-term strategy would be a commitment to deliver on the existing political obligations in the Programme for Government. Unless some unforeseen circumstance intervenes, voters want the Government to stay for the rest of its natural term.

Hence, the new rebirth process has to take place separate from and parallel to the Dail agenda. The PD parliamentarians would "play out their existing hand" while at the same time assisting in the process of building the new force for the next election.

One of the elements of the new force is a new label to be adopted in Cork for the new movement. The new name has to be catchy and punchy. Rather than have a vague and meaningless double-barrelled adjectival name, it is suggested that a single, strong word be adopted.

The name "Radical Party" is suggested. It connotes change, strength, thoroughness, youth, vision, vigour, rigour and vitality. It is a label which attracts youth and reformers. It suggests a strong agenda.

Another new element is the notion of political flexibility. Local and regional politics demand the capacity to set up an alliance of sister parties to contest elections. For instance, the Radical Party could have as a sister party in Dublin city and county a Dublin First party with membership overlap and the potential for different memberships. The same could apply to other regions.

Flexibility could also include European-constituency parties. Pat Cox could have a Munster Euro-party with common membership with the Radical Party in that region. Marion Harkin could organise a political movement in Connacht-Ulster and combine with the Radical Party to fight a Dail seat.

Separate local sister parties could organise at the same time in Galway and Sligo to fight the local elections, and combine, say, for BMW regional purposes.

By introducing a new variable geometry to Irish politics, the Radical Party could be the anchor-point for a much broader base. One of the features of the existing larger parties is the extent to which they have become a political franchise operated locally by independent organisations and figures.

By concentrating the efforts of the Radical Party as a franchise for general elections and creating flexibility for European, local and regional politics, a new set of opportunities could be created.

To create the new wave, there has to be a break with the past. The PD label is dated and carries a lot of negative baggage of economic elitism, FF factionalism, niche ambitions, revisionism and smallness.

On the positive side, its image is liberal, honest and straightforward - and as having had many of its good ideas stolen.

Extracted from a document discussed at a PD party meeting last week