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PDs may collapse Irish government PDs not leaving Irish government
(30 minutes later)
The leader of the Progressive Democrats is to hold a news conference amid speculation the party could be about to collapse the Republic's government. The Progressive Democrats will not be withdrawing from the Irish government, party leader Michael McDowell has said.
It follows a PD leadership meeting at which concerns were raised about information on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personal financial history. Mr McDowell made the announcement at a news conference in Dublin on Sunday.
Mr McDowell is believed to have consulted members of the parliamentary party since Saturday's meeting. There was speculation the coalition could collapse over concerns about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personal financial history.
The PDs have been in coalition government with Fianna Fail since 2002. The concerns were rasied at a meeting of the PD leadership on Saturday, but the party has said no purpose would be served by them leaving government.
A general election is to be held in the Irish Republic on 24 May. They said this would result in them handing over the justice and health portfolios to people who are unfamiliar with the issues.
It is understood that a number of members of the parliamentary party, some from outside Dublin, are not in favour of collapsing the government. However, in a statement on Sunday morning, Mr McDowell said he believed information given by Mr Ahern on his personal finances had been "anything but complete".
He said the taoiseach must give a credible and comphrensive public statement.
The PDs have said the statement must be made before election day in the Republic - 24 May.
The PDs have been in coalition government with Mr Ahern's Fianna Fail party since June 2002.
'Highly significant''Highly significant'
In a statement on the PDs' website, the party said Saturday's meeting "was called to evaluate new information relating to the financial affairs of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern".In a statement on the PDs' website, the party said Saturday's meeting "was called to evaluate new information relating to the financial affairs of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern".
It added: "It was agreed that the new information is highly significant."It added: "It was agreed that the new information is highly significant."
The information was provided by Sunday Independent journalist Jody Corcoran.The information was provided by Sunday Independent journalist Jody Corcoran.
Mr Corcoran has said that, in his opinion, the information contains no revelation that is not already in circulation or that the PDs were not already aware of.Mr Corcoran has said that, in his opinion, the information contains no revelation that is not already in circulation or that the PDs were not already aware of.
Writing in the Sunday Independent, Mr Corcoran said that he gave the information at Mr McDowell's behest to a PDs special advisor on Friday.Writing in the Sunday Independent, Mr Corcoran said that he gave the information at Mr McDowell's behest to a PDs special advisor on Friday.
He said that the new information he provided, though serious, was not all that disturbing but that interpreted in a certain way could be damaging to Fianna Fail.He said that the new information he provided, though serious, was not all that disturbing but that interpreted in a certain way could be damaging to Fianna Fail.
He also said that he is legally prevented from publishing what he disclosed to the party.He also said that he is legally prevented from publishing what he disclosed to the party.
The Progressive Democrats describes itself as a liberal Party and was formed in 1985 by Desmond O'Malley, Mary Harney and Michael McDowell The Progressive Democrats describes itself as a liberal Party and was formed in 1985 by Desmond O'Malley, Mary Harney and Michael McDowell.