The Progressive Democrats marked out something of a new departure at their annual conference in Galway at the weekend. A switch in emphasis from control of government spending and tax reform to the need for a huge investment by the public/private sectors in the creation of a modern Irish infrastructure, went hand-in-hand with the advocacy of a caring society where democracy is renewed and regional development encouraged.
It was an appeal to the broad centre ground of public opinion at a time when the party is under enormous electoral pressure and predictions about its demise come with increasing frequency. The conference may mark a make-or-break point in the fortunes of the party. European and local elections are due to be held next June and the possibility of an early general election cannot be discounted because of the minority voting position of the Coalition Government in the Dail. The failure of the party to select a candidate for the European elections is a sign of its current difficulties. And the number of candidates going forward in the local elections is down on the last occasion. These indications, when taken in context of the rather poor attendance by delegates during Saturday's debates, must be a cause of serious concern for the leadership.
That said, there is still an enormous fund of support within the party for the Tanaiste and party leader, Ms Harney, and for her predecessor, Mr Des O'Malley. And the determination articulated by both delegates and Oireachtas members to turn the situation around cannot be discounted. In that regard, the development of the Progressive Democrats in policy terms and the broad vision of how the State should evolve over the next ten years, emphasises the determination of the party to grow and develop and to remain relevant.
The party has overcome setbacks in the past. It's Dail strength dropped from fourteen to six seats in 1989, before rising to ten in 1992. It currently holds four Dail seats and is again in Government with Fianna Fail. Ms Harney is the second most popular party leader and party support, boosted by tensions within Government, has increased from 2 to 4 per cent in the last Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll. Those factors would suggest that the circumstances in which the next general election is called will have a vital bearing on the performance of the party and on its perception by the electorate.
No party can rely on such considerations, however, and the Progressive Democrats have sought a new political relevance in terms of adapted policies. "Managing prosperity" was how Ms Harney put it in her address on Saturday night. The creation of a modern and efficient infrastructure to be funded through the privatisation of State companies and in partnership with the private sector, was just part of the message. Clear evidence of improper activity in corporate business and in tax matters by influential people had to be confronted and the law had to be applied with equal vigour to the rich and the poor, the weak and the powerful, she told delegates. Her vision of the future embraced an enterprise economy in an inclusive society, where education was available to all; where economic and social deprivation attracted special Government investment and where balanced regional development contributed to the welfare of the whole.