Minister for Health and former Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney has said "tough decisions" are needed in the party amid mounting speculation that Galway West TD Noel Grealish is to move to Fianna Fáil.
"We have to be realistic. Idealism is important but realism is also important," Ms Harney said today. She said a “huge issue” for her party was the ability to elect TDs to the Dáil.
“Clearly since the last general election it has been very challenging. It is very difficult for the party, there is no doubt about that.
“We succeeded in electing only two members to Dáil Eireann in the last general election. That was a major setback for the party and clearly since that time it’s been extraordinarily difficult, particularly difficult for the leader of the party, Senator Ciarán Cannon, who has my full support.
“He has an awesome task and he deserves the support of all his colleagues, including members of the parliamentary party, in the executive and in the organisation generally.
“It’s been a stormy road for the PDs since our formation 23 years ago. I think we are at a very challenging time, I want to be honest about that.
“It’s going to be very challenging for the future with such small numbers in the parliamentary party.”
Mr Cannon said today he had spoken to Mr Grealish last night but the question of a move to Fianna Fáil was still "hypothetical". Mr Cannon said he had sought and received reassurance from all parliamentary party members that they would stay with the party until after the local elections next year. Mr Cannon said Mr Grealish had assured him he remains an active member of the party.
But speculation that Mr Grealish will join Fianna Fáil has refused to go away and some predicting such a move would spell the end of the PDs. The party has only two TDs, Mr Grealish and Ms Harney.
The four members of the parliamentary party - Mr Cannon, Mr Grealish, Ms Harney and Senator Fiona O'Malley - are due to meet next week.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Cannon said he hoped to quell the speculation about Mr Grealish's future with the party "for once and for all" in the coming days.
He said there had been "short-lived" discussion among party members about the speculation on the Galway West TD's departure because the meeting due to take place this week had been postponed due to the death of a friend of Mr Grealish.
"It was premature and pretty pointless in discussing any aspect of that issue until such time as the parliamentary party have had a chance to meet," Mr Cannon said.
He admitted Mr Grealish had voiced his opinion in the past about the survival of the party.
"Noel would have said to me on a number of occasions - and he has voiced this opinion publicly - that he has had doubts since our pretty disastrous general election over a year ago now about the survival of the party. That is one of the issues that we will be discussing at the parliamentary party next week and it is one that I hope to have clarified."
The PD leader said he dearly hoped there was a future for Mr Grealish in the party.
"Let's face it here, he's one of the few people who actually achieved electoral success in May of last year. He's had an exemplary record in being elected over and over again. He's a valuable and trusted member of the party and I would sincerely hope that he would remain on with us."
Mr Cannon said the speculation to date had been "pretty much one-way traffic" in the sense that little of it was generated by the party itself.
"I think Noel feels the most opportune time and the most appropriate moment to speak about that speculation would be to his colleagues in the parliamentary party and that's what will be happening next week."
Asked whether he had received any commitment from Mr Grealish that he would remain with the party until after the local elections, Mr Cannon said that time would be "a pivotal moment for the party" and would dictate how it would move forward collectively.
"I would have felt at the time that it would be important that all members of the parliamentary party would remain committed to the party until that time and I did seek and secure the commitment of all members of the parliamentary party to remain with the party and remain steadfastly behind the party until such time as the local elections were complete."
He said the future of Mr Grealish with the party was still "a hypothetical question" that he would not address until he knew exactly what the position was.