Grealish to clarify position in PDs tomorrow night

Galway West TD Noel Grealish has said he will clarify his position after meetings with his colleagues in the Progressive Democrats…

Galway West TD Noel Grealish has said he will clarify his position after meetings with his colleagues in the Progressive Democrats tomorrow.

Mr Grealish, one of only two PD TDs, is widely expected to join Fianna Fáil, throwing the future of the party into doubt.

¿I made it quite clear all along that I wasn¿t making any comment about my future until I sit down with my colleagues,¿ Mr Grealish said today.

¿I look forward to the meeting tomorrow night and hopefully all this will be clarified".

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He said speculation on his future within the PDs had been ¿driven by the media¿.

¿The whole issue will be clarified tomorrow night and I look forward to the meeting,¿ he told RTÉ television.

Crucial meetings to discuss the future of the PDs will take place tomorrow. Taoiseach Brian Cowen denied any "formal" talks were taking place but accepted the possibility of informal contacts between individuals.

PD leader, Senator Ciarán Cannon, has expressed doubts about the prospect of a merger between the two parties.

The PD parliamentary party of two TDs and two senators is due to meet tomorrow at an undisclosed location. Originally scheduled for last Wednesday, the meeting was postponed as a mark of respect after a close friend of Mr Grealish died suddenly.

Tomorrow evening also, at Newbridge, Co Kildare, the PD parliamentarians are due to meet the party's councillors. This aggregate gathering of elected representatives is expected to take place after the parliamentary party meeting.

How the councillors react to reports of a proposed merger with Fianna Fáil is seen as critical to the future direction of the PDs.

Deaglán  De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún, a former Irish Times journalist, is a contributor to the newspaper