Members of the Progressive Democrats will decide in a series of regional meetings over the coming fortnight whether to fight next June’s local and European elections as a political party or wind down the organisation completely.

Their deliberations will be heavily influenced by an announcement from Noel Grealish, the Galway West TD who is believed to be planning to run for Fianna Fail in the next general election. He will outline his position to his three Oireachtas colleagues at a meeting in the next 48 hours.

Fianna Fail sources have indicated that Grealish has held talks with Eamon O Cuiv, the Gaeltacht minister, about defecting to the party along with a number of PD councillors in Galway.

Declan McDonnell and Jim Cuddy, two councillors from Grealish’s Carnmore base, are thought to be the most likely to move with him. Donal Lyons, a councillor in Galway city and a former member of Fine Gael, and Connemara-based Tom Welby are thought to be less likely to move.

One senior PD figure said yesterday: “Whether Noel comes or goes, the question will still have to be asked: do we have a future in Irish politics? At least the national executive decided last week to seek clarity from the members themselves on this question, and I think we’ll know the answer to that in the next couple of weeks.”

O Cuiv could not be reached for comment yesterday. Frank Fahey, his Fianna Fail colleague, said last week he would welcome Grealish into the party, but that the views of the local organisation would first have to be taken into account.

Cuddy said it was premature to comment until Grealish had consulted his colleagues. McDonnell said it was no secret that he had spoken to Fianna Fail but would not elaborate.

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