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PDs not leaving Irish government PDs not leaving Irish government
(30 minutes later)
The Progressive Democrats will not be withdrawing from the Irish government, party leader Michael McDowell has said.The Progressive Democrats will not be withdrawing from the Irish government, party leader Michael McDowell has said.
Mr McDowell made the announcement at a news conference in Dublin on Sunday.Mr McDowell made the announcement at a news conference in Dublin on Sunday.
There was speculation the coalition could collapse over concerns about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personal financial history.There was speculation the coalition could collapse over concerns about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personal financial history.
However, Mr McDowell said Mr Ahern cannot seek re-nomination as taoiseach in the next dail, unless he gives a full public statement on his finances.However, Mr McDowell said Mr Ahern cannot seek re-nomination as taoiseach in the next dail, unless he gives a full public statement on his finances.
Mr Ahern said he may do so.
"If I can pull all of the stuff together, I am not adverse to doing that," he said.
The concerns about the issue 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.The concerns about the issue 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.
They said this would result in them handing over the justice and health portfolios to people who are unfamiliar with the issues.They said this would result in them handing over the justice and health portfolios to people who are unfamiliar with the issues.
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".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.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 said the statement must be made before election day in the Republic - 24 May.
Mr Ahern has said he has done nothing improper, but will only answer detailed questions about his finances at an investigating judicial tribunal which has been suspended until after the election.Mr Ahern has said he has done nothing improper, but will only answer detailed questions about his finances at an investigating judicial tribunal which has been suspended until after the election.
The PDs have been in coalition government with Mr Ahern's Fianna Fail party since June 2002.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.