Progressive Democrats
Leader	currently none
Founded	1985
Headquarters	25 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2
Political Ideology	Liberalism , Economic liberalism, Neoliberalism
International Affiliation	Liberal International
European Affiliation	European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Parliament Group	n/a
Colours	Dark Blue
Website	www.progressivedemocrats.ie
See also: Politics of the Republic of Ireland Political parties in the Republic of Ireland Elections in Ireland This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Liberal International is a political international for international liberal parties. ... The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (founded in 1993) is a liberal party, mainly active in the European Union, composed of 49 national liberal and centrist parties from across Europe. ... YOU SUCK!!!!! ... Politics of Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... There are a number of political parties in the Republic of Ireland, and coalition governments are common. ... The Republic of Ireland elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. ...

The Progressive Democrats (Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach, lit.: The Democratic Party) is a free market liberal party in the Republic of Ireland founded in 1985 . It adopts liberal positions on both economic issues and social or moral matters. Despite its liberal position on many issues, PD members are often seen as being quite conservative on immigration. It is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR). It polled 4% at the 1997 and 2002 and 2.7% at the 2007 general elections. Nevertheless the PDs have had a significant influence on Irish public policy in recent years, having been in coalition government with Fianna Fáil since 1997. A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... This is a list about liberalism and political parties around the world. ... The liberal theory of economics is the theory of economics begun in the Englightenment, and believed to be first fully forumulated by Adam Smith. ... The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (founded in 1993) is a liberal party, mainly active in the European Union, composed of 49 national liberal and centrist parties from across Europe. ... The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, June 6, 1997. ... The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday 17 May 2002, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. ... This article is about the general election in the Republic of Ireland. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in the Republic of Ireland with 55,000 members. ...

History

The party was founded in 1985 by Desmond O'Malley, a former senior minister in Fianna Fáil governments under Jack Lynch and Charles Haughey. O'Malley was a strong opponent of Haughey and was involved in a number of leadership heaves against Haughey, who was popular and controversial in equal measure. O'Malley was finally expelled from Fianna Fáil for conduct unbecoming a member when he refused to support Fianna Fáil's opposition to the introduction of contraception. Desmond Joseph (Des) OMalley (Irish: ; born 2 February 1939), was a senior Fianna Fáil politician, the founder of the Progressive Democrats and the partys first leader (1985-1993). ... John (Jack) Mary Lynch (15 August 1917—20 October 1999), was the fourth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

O'Malley joined with Fianna Fáil members Mary Harney, Bobby Molloy and Pearse Wyse, Fine Gael TD Michael Keating and former Fine Gael activist Michael McDowell, to set up the new party. The breakaways were dissatisfied with the policies of existing parties, which they viewed as being insufficiently liberal (both economically and on social issues such as divorce and contraception). Mary Harney (Irish: ; born 11 March 1953) is an Irish politician and was the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the sixth largest political party in Ireland) between 1993 and 2006. ... Bobby Molloy (born July 9, 1936), former Fianna Fáil & Progressive Democrats politician. ... Pearse Wyse (born March 1928) was an Irish Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats politician. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to ) (approximate English translation: Family or Tribe of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - The United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Dail (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership... Michael Keating (born September, 1947) is a former Irish politician. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ...

In the 1987 general election the new party won 14 seats and 11.9% of the vote, becoming the third largest party in the Dáil. The Progressive Democrats formed the second largest opposition party under difficult circumstances. The minority Fianna Fáil government introduced some of the economic reforms that the Progressive Democrats had recommended, Fianna Fáil was however largely supported by Fine Gael where the economy was concerned and so the Progressive Democrats had difficulty in being effective in opposition. The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann (pronounced ) is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ...

In 1989 they formed a coalition government with Fianna Fáil, with Charles Haughey as Taoiseach. Haughey was replaced in February 1992 by Albert Reynolds. The Taoiseach ( or ) — plural: Taoisigh ( or ), also referred to as An Taoiseach[1], is the head of government of Ireland or prime minister. ... Albert Reynolds (born November 3, 1932), was the eighth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. ...

After the collapse of Reynolds' first administration later in 1992, O'Malley retired from the leadership of the party. Mary Harney became the new leader and the first woman to lead any of the major Irish political parties. Harney served as Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) from May 1997 until September 2006, when she resigned as party leader. The Tánaiste[1] (plural: Tánaistithe), or, more formally, An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 2006 is the ninth month of 2006 and has begun on a Friday. ...

In the 2002 general election, the party defied expectations by doubling its Dáil seats to eight, although its share of the vote declined slightly to 4%. It is believed that they attracted the votes of many Fine Gael voters who were afraid of a Fianna Fáil majority and believed that Fine Gael's economic policy in the election was reckless.^{[citation needed]} The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday 17 May 2002, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. ...

In total the Progressive Democrats have participated in coalition governments three times, on each occasion with Fianna Fáil (1989-1992; 1997-2002; 2002-2007).

On 7 September 2006 Mary Harney announced that she was stepping down as leader of the Progressive Democrats. She expressed a wish to stay on as Minister for Health.^[1] On 10 September, Michael McDowell was elected unopposed as Party Leader, having been nominated by Tom Parlon and that nomination being seconded by Liz O'Donnell.^[2] Liz O'Donnell became Deputy Leader and Tom Parlon became Party President. September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the Gregorian calendar (254th in leap years). ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ... Tom Parlon (born 19 August 1953) is an Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ... Liz ODonnell (July 1956) is an Irish politician. ...

The Irish general election, 2007, was a disastrous one for the party. Rejected by the Irish electorate, the Progressive Democrats lost six of its eight seats in the 166 seat Dail. Among those to lose their seats were both the party leader Michael McDowell and party president Tom Parlon.^[3] Michael McDowell resigned from public life after he lost his seat. The next general election in the Republic of Ireland need not officially occur until 2007. ... Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ... Tom Parlon (born 19 August 1953) is an Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ...

Policies

The Progressive Democrats' economic policies are based on liberal economics. They support a free enterprise, low tax and pro-competition policy base. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Progressive Democrats consider privatisation on a case by case basis, generally favouring the privatisation but making exceptions under different circumstances. For example, they supported the privatisation of the previously state-owned airline Aer Lingus, while opposing their coalition partner’s plans to privatise airports company Aer Rianta, on the grounds that a private monopoly would be worse than a public monopoly. They succeeded in preventing the company from being privatised, and broke it up into competing companies instead. Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland. ... Dublin Airport Authority plc (known until 1st October 2004 as Aer Rianta cpt1) is the state owned airport authority in the Republic of Ireland. ...

The party has been a strong supporter of low taxation. As the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) stated in 2002: 'On balance, budgets over the past 10 to 20 years have been more favourable to high income groups than low income groups, but particularly so during periods of high growth.^[4] While the party was in government since 1997, the lower rate of income tax fell from 26% to 20% and the upper rate from 48% to 41%.^[5][6] The Economic and Social Research Institute in Ireland produces research focusing on Irelands economic and social development in order to inform policy-making and societal understanding. ... An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of persons, corporations, or other legal entities. ...

They support low corporation tax because they believe it encourages business growth and allows for enterprise to be rewarded. The party has often claimed these policies are in part responsible for the "Celtic Tiger" economy. Dermot McAleese, emeritus professor of economics at Trinity College, Dublin, says that the emergence of the Progressive Democrats in 1985 may have had a more positive influence on the economy than some recognise. He argues the low-tax, pro-business economy we know today is based in large part on Progressive Democrat policies. "They proved that there was a constituency for this, and they gave the intellectual power to it." (The Irish Times, 31 December 2004). Cartoon of the Celtic Tiger. ... Emeritus (IPA pronunciation: or ) is an adjective that is used in the title of a retired professor, bishop or other professional. ... Trinity College, Dublin TCD,corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ...

The party is often described as right-wing. Party leaders reject the idea that they are ruled by ideology alone. Former party leader Michael McDowell has said that he sees liberalism as not being on the left-right spectrum as it is a mix of the ideals of both. Mary Harney, on becoming health minister said "I don't get my politics from any ideology, I get it from my experience and common sense".^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Left-Right politics. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ...

Despite espousing liberal social policies and having in its ranks the openly gay Senator Colm O'Gorman, the Progressive Democrats do not at the present time support the right of same-sex couples to marry. Instead, they favour legislating for civil union. This policy is consistent with that of the other Irish political parties, with the exception of the Green Party and Sinn Féin, both of which back gay marriage. GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... Colm OGorman Colm OGorman (born 1966) is the founder and director of One in Four, a national Irish charity that supports women and men who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence. ...   CA, CT, MD, NY, NJ, OR, RI, VT, WA See also Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      Same-sex marriage is a term for a governmentally, socially, or religiously recognized marriage in which two people of the same sex live... A civil union is a recognized union similar to marriage. ... The Green Party (Irish: ) is a green political party in Ireland. ... For pre-Arthur Griffith use of the political name, see Sinn Féin (19th century). ...   CA, CT, MD, NY, NJ, OR, RI, VT, WA See also Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      Same-sex marriage is a term for a governmentally, socially, or religiously recognized marriage in which two people of the same sex live...

Both Progressive Democrats and other commentators have suggested that the party has had a greater influence on government policy since 1997 than might be expected from its size. This belief appears to have some basis – as of September 2004 the party controlled two of the most important cabinet positions (Justice and Health) despite having less than one-tenth of the seats of its coalition partner Fianna Fáil. September 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: September 2004 in sports Events Deaths in September • 27 Tsai Wan-lin • 24 Françoise Sagan • 20 Brian Clough • 18 Russ Meyer • 15 Johnny Ramone • 12 Fred Ebb • 11 Peter VII of Alexandria • 8... The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is the chief minister in charge of law and order in the Republic of Ireland. ...

In a 2000 speech to the American Bar Association, the then party leader, Mary Harney, appeared to express a desire that Ireland become "closer to Boston than Berlin",^[7] adopting US free market models for economic development, health, education, and other services rather than European Continental models because she believed that the continental countries (such as Germany and France), while having more equality had bad economies and high unemployment. She said that the economic growth did not come at the cost of society: "And did we have to pay some very high price for pursuing this policy option? Did we have to dismantle the welfare state? Did we have to abandon the concept of social inclusion? The answer is no: we didn't". American Bar Associations Washington, DC office The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Leadership

Leader

• 1985–1992: Des O'Malley
• 1993–2006: Mary Harney
• 2006–2007: Michael McDowell
• 2007–...: A new leader is yet to be elected after the resignation of Michael McDowell on May 24, when he lost his seat in Dáil Éireann and announced that he had no intention of remaining in politics.

Desmond (Dessie) Joseph OMalley (born February 2, 1939), was a senior Fianna Fáil politician, the founder of the Progressive Democrats and the partys first leader (1985-1993). ... Mary Harney (Irish: ; born 11 March 1953) is an Irish politician and was the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the sixth largest political party in Ireland) between 1993 and 2006. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ...

Deputy Leader

• 1986–1989: Michael Keating
• 1989–1992: Pearse Wyse
• 1992–1994: Pat Cox
• 2006–...: Liz O'Donnell

Michael Keating (born September, 1947) is a former Irish politician. ... Pearse Wyse (born March 1928) was an Irish Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats politician. ... Pat Cox during a discussion at the 2004 Karlspreis ceremonies Pat Cox (born 28 November 1952) is an Irish politician and former television current affairs presenter. ... Liz ODonnell (July 1956) is an Irish politician. ...

President

• 2002–2006: Michael McDowell
• 2006–...: Tom Parlon

Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) was an Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party. ... Tom Parlon (born 19 August 1953) is an Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ...

Progressive Democrats TDs

• Mary Harney
• Noel Grealish

Mary Harney (Irish: ; born 11 March 1953) is an Irish politician and was the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the sixth largest political party in Ireland) between 1993 and 2006. ... Noel Grealish is an Irish Progressive Democrat politician. ...

Progressive Democrats Senators

• Michael Brennan
• Tom Morrissey
• John Dardis
• Colm O'Gorman
• John Minihan

Michael Brennan is an Irish politician and member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann for the Progressive Democrats A Fianna Fáil member of Limerick County Council for over 20 years, he was nominated as a senator by the Taoiseach in 2002, but left the party in 2004 to join the... Tom Morrissey is an Irish politician and member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann for the Progressive Democrats. ... John Dardis is an Irish politician and member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann for the Progressive Democrats. ... Colm OGorman Colm OGorman (born 1966) is the founder and director of One in Four, a national Irish charity that supports women and men who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence. ... Senator John Minihan (born November 1957 in Co. ...

Notes

Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ; Irish for Radio and Television of Ireland) is the national publicly-funded broadcaster of Ireland. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (RC) - now called simply Revenue - is the Irish Government agency responsible for customs, excise, taxation and related matters. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (RC) - now called simply Revenue - is the Irish Government agency responsible for customs, excise, taxation and related matters. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta) is a department of the Irish government. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A news release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Category:Irish Progressive Democrat party politicians
• Liberalism
• Contributions to liberal theory
• Liberalism worldwide
• List of liberal parties
• Liberal democracy
• Young Progressive Democrats
• Breaking the Mould

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

External links

• Progressive Democrats :: Liberal political party, Republic of Ireland official site