Dana makes last-ditch bid for Presidential nomination

Former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon played her last card in her bid for the presidency tonight, writing an urgent letter to all members of the Oireachtas.

The letter called for support on the basis that the president should be elected by the people in a democratic contest.

Ms Scallon insisted she was not seeking a “personal or ideological endorsement” but simply called on TDs and Senators to exercise their right to nominate a candidate.

She has just three days left to muster backing from either three more county councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas in order to contest Mary McAleese’s bid for a second consecutive term.

Earlier this week nine local authorities rejected her request for a nomination, although there was a momentary glimmer of hope as Galway City Council voted in her favour.

Although Laois County Council will hold a special meeting to discuss her nomination on Thursday night it is increasingly unlikely she will secure the required support by the October 1 deadline.

The letter sent to all members of the Oireachtas by fax or email today, read: “…there should be a contest for the presidency, as it not only provides a public mandate for the next presidential term, it also allows a platform for debate.

“Fourteen years without a Presidential election is too long and is unhealthy for democracy.”

Ms Scallon called on the recipients to contact her “as soon as possible” if they were willing to exercise their constitutional right on the basis of upholding democracy.

The stream of rejections by almost every county council she has approached has led Ms Scallon to question the democratic process.

She claims party leaders have gone all-out to block her nomination by issuing strict orders to councillors to tow the party line, effectively making it impossible for an independent candidate to stand.

The former Eurovision winner has vowed not to give up before the deadline and said she would fight the establishment as hard as she could.