Is Dana saying that she that she wouldn’t have to sign legislation for abortion because she thinks that the Irish voters wouldn’t vote for it or that she wouldn’t sign it because she is against it? Considering that divorce was rejected once and then accepted on a second referendum could not the same happen with abortion? The role of President is to make sure that legislation is constitutional and legal. The Presidents personal opinions do not come into it in the same way that a judge in a court has to remain impartial. If Dana is saying that she wouldn’t sign in legislation that has been accepted by the voters but goes against her beliefs then she should not be running for office. One person can not override the wishes of a nation because of that individuals beliefs.

Do Thejournal.ie staff intentionally look for and use the worst possible photos they can find of people? I think you guys do!

Oh for gods sake, are people really wasting their time listening to what Dana thinks? Bless, she doesn’t have a hope in this election….so it doesn’t matter what shes for or against!

It’s a pity that none of the more sensible candidates have said much regarding the direction in which Europe is heading atm. Dana didn’t really do a good job of selling the idea that it’s not a good one at the Vincent Browne book club last night.

I am not advocating Dana for presidency. I am making the point that she has experience in Europe that other candidates lack and yet her message is troubling. Mitchell was an MEP but he is not offering an opinion because he is forced to tow the party line … after all the present gov are in bed with Europe just like their predecessors-ask no questions, don’t rock the boat, repay the debt, do not default, do not upset our European partners no matter what the cost. We owe it to our children’s children to question this ideology.

Given that the ECJ has instructed the Irish Government to legislate on Abortion.. Dana may be in some trouble..

Dana’s campaign is off to a good start by cleverly focusing on the unease people have encroaching European super-state and ever dwindling loss of sovereignty. In fact, if you are part of or linked to an establishment party, it’s a hard message to counter as it fundamentally highlights the failures of the pro-EU, soft social democratic liberalism that virtually the political parties in the South have signed up for. Ideas like how sovereignty are hard to explain in sound bites but I think people are being to realize what it is when they don’t have it anymore. I don’t expect her to win but don’t underestimate her and prepare to be surprised at her final vote tally. Other candidates like Norris & McGuiness are talking about it too (at least the financial side of the coin) and it will do them no harm either.

I’m just not hearing anything positive from Dana. She seems to be ascribing a lot more power to the presidency than is actually there. And she she a bit of a gall claiming to be a champion of Irish Family values considering she was pivotal in the defeat of the 2002 pro-life referendum, an act which was probably did more to hasten the introduction of Abortion than anything Ivana Bacik has ever done.

I agree and I think there is a perception that somehow she’s a somewhat simple catholic Irish woman with little understanding of the real ‘issues’. While I do not believe that she will be elected she is actually the only candidate who has first hand experience of Europe and if she is this vocal about the European hidden agenda perhaps we should listen to her message. She is not as effective at public speaking as others but her message makes many people uneasy me included.

Dana is not even at the races…..she is so out of touch with those in the real world…unbelievable that someone like her could even be on the ballot paper.. We need some better way of choosing candidates given the debacle this year.

Dana is awfully fond of waving the constitution around and does not seem to have actually read the relevant sections that lay out the powers and role of the president. She seems utterly clueless as to what the limits of the role are and seems to think that the president would have had the power to stop Lisbon II or Nice II taking place. She wouldn’t,

The thoughts of Dana in the park make me think of Ireland under direct rule of the Vatican! I just can’t see the difference!!!!!!

Just anti the secular bits?

Hey! hold on a minute here.

Dana says she is opposed to ‘ANYTHING that takes away the right to self determination from the Irish sovereign nation and it’s people’
We have lost our sovereignty Dana the IMF and the ECB have tucked that one under their armpits.

Find a new campaign issue.

Don’t dish the anti Europe stance Dana it,s your only saving grace

Louise, I couldn’t agree more. In my opinion, most of them just seem to be in it for the pension. Apart from Sean Gallagher, i don’t think i have heard one of them talk about what they plan to do once they get into office. I know the president has limited powers but there are some things they can do. Most of them seem to want to toe the party line though.

Sure2bsure, I don’t think Dana’s mouth is that big lol

So she is pro-Europe? I wasn’t going to vote for her before now but that just confirms it. It seems to me that although changing over to the Euro didn’t cause the mess we are in right now, it certainly didn’t help things. People will argue that Europe invested money in Ireland to help infrastructure but at what cost? We barely blow our noses these days without having to consult Europe first and if we get permission to do so, there is usually a tax involved. If Dana wants whats best for the people of Ireland, she should be advocating that we leave the Euro as soon as possible.

Martin McGuinness No 1