The Progressive Democrats' top ruling body has unanimously endorsed the decision of acting leader Mary Harney to enter Government with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
Following the election, the party's national executive gave Ms Harney the power to make a decision about entering coalition, though the issue was supposed to have been ratified by the party's general council before a Dáil vote.
In the end, there was not enough time for the general council to meet because of the length of time it took Fianna Fáil and the Greens to agree a deal, which came the night before the Dáil met to elect the Taoiseach.
Yesterday, however, her decision met with complete approval of the 130 members of the general council present at a meeting in Dublin, where the future direction of the party was discussed.
A representative of the Young Progressive Democrats is to be added to a five-strong group set up by the party's national executive to examine the rules to be used to elect the next leader. The representative, David Monaghan, will join the review group's chairman, Senator John Dardis, and Declan McDonnell, Tadhg Kearney, Cllr Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Nicola Byrne.
At present, only TDs can be elected, which would rule out the strongest candidate for leadership, former minister of state Tom Parlon. Similarly, only TDs can nominate candidates.
The group will also review the electoral college rules, which give 40 per cent of the votes to the parliamentary party, 30 per cent each to councillors and the national executive, and 30 per cent to rank-and-file members.
Former leader Michael McDowell and former minister of state Liz O'Donnell did not attend. Former Limerick TD and minister of state Tim O'Malley was absent for personal reasons.
