Dana criticises short deadline for presidential nominations

Former MEP Rosemary Dana Scallon has expressed anger at the manner in which the Government announced the date for the upcoming presidential election.

Ms Scallon said today that Environment Minister Martin Cullen’s decision to schedule the election for October 22 and to announce the date last week meant that county councils had very little time to nominate candidates.

The last number of presidential elections have all been held during the month of November.

Ms Scallon is seeking a nomination for this year’s election and needs the support of four county councils before she can get her name on the ticket.

Mayo County Council is expected to decide later today whether to nominate the former Connacht/Ulster MEP, who also contested the last presidential election seven years ago.