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The Progressive Democrats (in Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach) is a free market liberal party in the Republic of Ireland founded in 1985. It is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.
The PD's policies are based upon liberal economic policies such as free enterprise, competition, privatisation (on a case by case basis) and the belief that economic and social growth go together. Like a number of other European liberal parties, they combine these economic policies with a liberal and secular social outlook.
In terms of social welfare provision they believe in selective rather than universal benefits, working under the ideal "help only the people who cannot help themselves".
The core policy that defines their economic outlook is low tax. Low income tax because they believe it encourages people to work and rewards them for their effort. Low corporation tax because they believe it encourages business growth. Such policies were adopted from those of Margaret Thatcher's free enterprise ideals ("Free Enterprise Wins").
The party believes that these policies contributed significantly to the sudden growth in the Irish economy known as the " Celtic Tiger".
Critics blame these policies for the high level of income inequality in Ireland (second highest in the developed world, using the HPI-2 index in the UN Human Development Report for 2004). The PDs respond by pointing to the dramatic fall in absolute poverty[1] and unemployment while they have been in power.
Other controversial policies endorsed by the PDs include privatisation of state-owned companies, and their support for the US military's use of Shannon Airport as a transit point. In particular, the privatisation of Eircom, the former state telecommunications monopoly, resulted in many small investors losing money when the share price fell.
They support the social partnership agreements on taxation, wages and conditions negotiated between unions, government and employers. The PD leader, Mary Harney, introduced a minimum wage law in 2000 while she was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The party was founded in 1985 by Desmond O'Malley, a former senior minister in Fianna FáilFianna Fail The Republican Party ( English: Soldiers of Destiny is the largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. Throughout the twentieth century, the party moved from being a radical, slightly left of centre party, to become the establishment d governments under Jack LynchJohn Mary "Jack" Lynch ( Ir. Sean O Loingsigh) ( 15 August 1917 20 October 1999), was the fourth Taoiseach of Ireland. He served two periods in office; 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. Lynch was first elected as a Fianna Fail TD in 1948 and at each subseque and Charles J. Haughey.
O'Malley was a strong opponent of Haughey and was involved in a number of leadership heaves against the controversial and popular Haughey. He 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.
O'Malley joined with Fianna Fáil members Mary HarneyMary Harney (born March 11, 1953) is a senior Irish politician. She was appointed to Seanad Eireann in 1977 and was elected to Dail Eireann in 1981. She has been the leader of the Progressive Democrats since 1993, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Tra, Bobby Molloy and Pearse Wyse, Fine GaelFine Gael is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. It was founded on 3 September 1933 following the merger of Cumann na nGaedhael, the Centre Party and the Blueshirts. Leaders General Eoin O'Duffy (1933-34) [O'Duffy never had a se 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).
In the 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train general election the new party won 14 seats and 11.9% of the vote, becoming the third largest party in the Dáil. It appeared to gain votes primarily from Fine Gael, whose vote declined by a comparable amount. In the 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra general election, the party lost most of this support, dropping into fifth place in the Dáil behind the Labour Party and the Workers Party with six seats and 5.5% of the vote. It then formed a coalition government with Fianna Fáil, with Charles Haughey as Taoiseach. Haughey was replaced in February 1992 by Albert Reynolds.
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 currently serves as Tánaiste (deputy prime minister).
In total the Progressive Democrats have participated in coalition governments three times, all with Fianna Fáil (1989-1992; 1997-2002; 2002 to date). Mary Harney has said it makes "no difference" if they are in government with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael as long as they can get policy implemented, "[they] do not want to be in government for the sake of it".
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%.
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.
In a widely reported speech [2] in 2000, the current party leader, Mary Harney, expressed the desire that Ireland become closer to Boston than Berlin, adopting US free market models for economic development, health, education, and other services rather than European social democratic models.
However, following a mauling in the June 2004 local elections both parties in the FF-PD coalition signalled a repositioning to the left, with Mary Harney emphasising her party's social liberal approach.
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