The ironically-named party was formed 23 years ago and has served as the junior coalition partner in government for much of that time. At its height it had 14 elected members (out of 166) but its popularity has declined sharply since then and at last year's general election it went from eight seats to two. (Two of its unsuccessful candidates were subsequently nominated by the Prime Minister to the undemocratic, anachronistic talking shop that is the Irish Senate).
While they were formed originally as a liberal party both economically and socially - one of the key issues that caused them to split from their parent party, Fianna Fáil, was the latter's opposition to liberalising the contraception laws - in recent years they took a sharp turn to the right on social issues as well with their former party leader, as Minister for Justice, pursuing a heavy criminal justice agenda.
The collapse at the 2007 general election was followed by a steady stream of councillors abandoning the sinking ship. All four of the PDs in the two houses of parliament indicated prior to today's vote that they saw no future for the party. It is expected that two of them will rejoin the main government party Fianna Fáil, one will join the main opposition party Fine Gael (both right-centrist parties without any significant ideological distinction between them) and one, Mary Harney, will continue on as an independent. Harney - the most ideological of the four - is unfortunately expected to be retained in her role as Minister for Health, to the continuing severe detriment of the health services in this country.
Still, their demise is something to celebrate.