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FORMER EUROVISION WINNER and MEP, Dana Rosemary Scallon, is considering seeking the backing of 20 TDs and Senators in a late bid to enter this year’s Presidential election, it has been reported.
Highland Radio, the local radio station in Donegal where Scallon has links, cited sources close to the former MEP who said Scallon was now reconsidering her earlier decision not to contest this year’s election.
Scallon has previously ruled out running in this year’s election, but Highland Radio said the withdrawal of frontrunner David Norris meant it would now be possible for Scallon to win nominations from 20 Oireachtas members and still get her name included in the ballot papers.
Scallon became the first candidate in history to successfully win nomination from four local authorities when she contested the 1997 election as an independent candidate.
She finished third in that election behind the eventual winner Mary McAleese, who ran as a Fianna Fáil candidate, and Fine Gael’s nominee Mary Banotti. She picked up over 175,000 first preference votes in that election, winning the support of 13.8 per cent of the electorate.
Scallon also expressed interest in running in 2004 but was unable to secure a nomination, leaving McAleese to be returned automatically as the sole candidate.
She was elected an MEP for the Connaught-Ulster constituency in 1999, but failed to retain her seat in 2004. She also ran in the 2002 general election in the constituency of Galway West, but polled poorly and finished 11th in terms of first preference votes.
Earlier this year Scallon campaigned with the United For Life group which asked candidates to “defend human life at all stages”.
Scallon had not returned contact to TheJournal.ie at the time of publication.
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Oh, no !! Just what this country needs right now. Another “Jesus” freak !! She’ll have us all waking up to The Angelus every morning. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but those creeping Jesus types make my flesh crawl. Give me someone who can knock back a few beers anytime.
Its not harsh – its fact.
Do you know her? She always strikes me as a very pleasant person.
She is an extremely pleasant and personable person but the political movement she represents is not, it exists only to facilitate the hegemony of traditional catholic nuclear family supremacy, at whatever social cost.
Thank u, Laura. That she does.
Thats two extreme religion options running possibly.
One step forward (for a brief Norris moment) – then ten further steps backward! Bloody Irish old politics rearing its ugly head again. Its depressing.
Dana? Good christ NO!
Its bad enough we have Gay Mitchell running or lest we forget… In the words of a boards.ie member: “He opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality and more recently the equalisation of age of consent laws and abortion law reforms. He’s a politician that bases many of his views on religion. A 1950′s style creeping Jesus. “
Can ye imagine of those bills came in front of them so that they could become law – and they refuse to sign them due to their extreme religious nutty views?
Where does Ireland go from there? it would be utter chaos!
Good it will split the holy joe vote between herself and mitchel.
Not everyone who subscribes to a religion is totally nutty. Very extreme views!
Mitchell opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality??!
Yes – and not only that…
He is a member of the European Catholic group Dignitatis Humanae Institute (http://tinyurl.com/6drxf4) and defended Italian MEP Rocco Buttiglione’s remarks when he referred to homosexuality as a sin some time back.
For the record: Gay Mitchell, despite being a spokesman during opposition years, has never been deemed worthy of a full ministerial post by Fine Gael. Mitchell spoke out against the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1993. He spoke out against the modernisation of Irish age of consent laws. Fine Gael did not consider Gay Mitchell suitable to lead the party in 2002 – now he’s ok as President though!
Thank you UnitedPeople for posting that link – very interesting indeed!! He’s just NOT what we need now (or ever)
Gods unmerciful teeth! Let’s throw Daniel O’Donnell into the mix as well.
Daniel O’Donnell, Johnthemull ? Yikes !!! Where’s that bucket ??!! I’d rather Dana any day to that clown. As the youngsters irritatingly say today “OMG !!!”.
Thats all we need is that delusional Jesus loving weirdo. This has just become ridiculous.
That’s not a fair description of her.
I think its quite accurate!! We do not need to bible basher telling us how we are all living in sin and that jesus loves us!! shes a bloody loony toon!!!!!
You’re entitled to your opinion, David, and probably represent one section of society, but, there’s another section of society that would identify more with Dana. There are also quite a few reasonable people who are involved in one religion or another. Are they all loonies too?
i have no problem with people having a religion as long as they keep it to themselves and dont inflict their views on everyone else. Religion is a personal choice and should be kept that way. i do think that dana is a radical religious person and i think that is a dangerous characteristic. i would have no problem with a president with religious views but i believe dana to be too extremist in her views. i also think that she is not qualified for the job or represent Ireland in a good light. I think this kind of person would have been more suited in 1950′s Ireland. i think it would be a major step backwards for the country.
What part of NO does this stupid wagon not understand. Bugger off Dana.
I doubt she’ll base her decision on this “lovely” comment!
I officially announce that I will in fact throw my hat in the ring in the race for the presidency…. :-)
Got my vote.
Don’t Dana…. Seriously.
Why not make it Dana International altogether.
There are all kinds of everything in this race now.
Funny how the day after Norris quits Dana strides in!! His polar opposite just happens to wander in for another stab at the election. Will this farce get any worse?
Aye, next up will be Bertie announcing he’s running!
Ah come on. NOOO!!!! WTF is wrong? Dana is certainly someone we DO NOT need!
Dana you’re a joke! We need someone who understands the role of the presidency, someone who has an understanding of constitutional law, someone who will be a states person, the chief diplomat. We don’t need some has-been singer and right-wing lunatic ” nuclear family values” and anti-abortion nut. Do us a favour Dana and stop meddling in things that you have no understanding of. What can you really offer the country in this time of great need? What do you understand about the financial crisis? What knowledge do you have of the European Union other than its something scary and big, so you’re frightened of it. Do us a favour Dana and disappear!
Gosh, I wouldn’t like to get on your bad side! Suprised at the vitriolic responses here.
I’m surprised at the contempt Dana and her ilk have for the people of Ireland that she is prepared to mortgage our already battered credibility for some kind of ill-thought publicity stunt!
You don’t need to have an understanding of constitutional law to be president. That’s why the president has the power to refer bills to the courts if they are unsure as to their constitutionality. In fact you could say that the office makes the assumption that the holder does not have an understanding of constitutional law :D
Obviously it’s better to have an understanding of constitutional law but how do we know that Dana doesn’t?
very patronising
You have got to be kidding me??, who’s next Dustin the Turkey?
Jedward too while we’re at it? LOL
This election is turning into a comedy of errors – the errors being the remaining candidates.
I want Norris back.
No thanks, http://wewantnorris.com/
Dear god no……. Not Dana
It’s a conspiracy, the more bad candidates we have the better chance of slipping in a Bertie or some other member of the golden circle. God help us all.
Very good, Unitedpeopel Ireland.
The same elitist conspiracy that kept David Norris off the ballot cannot be allowed to triumph again. The people must be allowed judge Dana’s candidacy.
surely the only skeletons in Dana s cupboard are a few dodgy songs.
Not quite true Mairead – when i was in college, some classmates were telling me that all of Dana’s intern, when she was a MEP, were all from the US bible belt as the folks there finance her. She didn’t have any Irish interns at all even tho she was supposed to be and IRISH MEP.
This is completely anecdotal so apologies if i’m incorrect, but i can’t see any reason my classmate would have had for making it up!!!!
get a grip!
IMHO there is no, God, Jesus, Allah, Budda, Father Christmas or tooth-fairy
Exactly.
Hear hear John… She has a right to run just like Norris should have… This “Election” has descended into farce.
Sure if she gets the nomination, judging by the comments here she won’t win, so I think we’re a smart enough nation…
In fairness, comments on these sites are hardly representative of the wider community. In the real world, there are very few who would tell a lady to “bugger off” and refer to her as a ” wagon.” Very reasoned debate!
I’m no fan of Dana’s beliefs, but she’s as entitled as anyone to throw her hat in the ring, even though she won’t get any votes in my house. As regards the online whinging, I quite agree Maria, some people love to see their witterings in print, and will spend all day writing unread blogs and practically spamming every discussion they can find in a poorly punctuated and parsed attempt to garner attention and laughs.
I’m well able to throw digs at institutions in the name of stimulated a balanced exchange, like most people here, but this business of shouting down people’s beliefs (or in the case of Dana, bordering on the personal), is throttling debate.
We need another ex everything has been right wing catholic like we need a hole in the head!!
If she wants to run let her run. She’s free to try to be president and we’re free to decide whether we want her as President or not. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
Exactly
Tell that to David Norris!
We’re SAVED! Hallelujah! PRAISE THE LORD! Let’s speak in tongues! Ah-lololololololololololololololololololololololololololo!!!
I’m just waiting for Gay Byrne to step up now, to complete the set.
How about Sinead?
Sinead O’Connor?
*rotflmao*
Actually Gay would make a fine president
If she wants to run, let her run. But after everything that has gone on in this circus so far we might as well let Bertie, Krusty the clown and Yogi Bear in on the act. Senator Norris campaign isnt gone cold and his polar opposite just happens to throw a few feelers in the mix to see if she has a chance of getting a nomination. Im tempted not to bother casting a ballot because I wouldnt let any of the remaining contenders in a tree house let alone the Aras.
If she wants to run she should be allowed.
I can’t see myself voting for her but if she won she would be a good president. Forget about her religious views, that’s not what the presidency is about.
…And what if she refuses to sign a bill into law because of her very strong (and she has them!!!) religious ideas?
One step forwards, fifty back!
If she or Mitchell gets elected, the stupid and blind here will get what they deserve!
Good christ – the public (the sane majority of them) want religion OUT of government offices – not shoved back into them!
We had the same risk with Norris and his liberal views. I never saw anyone saying that there’d be a risk of him not signing a bill and I never suspected there would be. Dane should also be afforded the benefit of the doubt. If Dana or Norris refused to sign a bill then they void their term and they have to resign!
I’m not suggesting that religion would be brought into the office. People don’t have a problem with religious people holding office and thankfully very few people judge their politicians in such a polarised way. It’s a question of whether they leave their religion at the door or whether it’s brought in with them.
Religious views however have no place in a modern government, we have already seen what religion and politics does already and it doesn’t end well. I’m not just talking about Ireland.
She is outspoken about her religious views and thats a massive concern when it comes to the position she may go for.
David you also make Norris sound like Ming when it comes to “his liberal views”, modern Ireland needs somebody progressive and Norris was by far the best choice of the otherwise laughable bunch
If Dana wants to bring her religious views into the Áras, then I won’t be voting for her at all.
However, if she shows that she can be a president who doesn’t bring religion into the room well then I don’t see why she shouldn’t be considered a viable candidate for the presidency.
Just because she’s a devout and outspoken christian doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know how to think for the good of the country.
Just look at Enda Kenny’s Cloyne speech, a perfect example of a Christian who has left his religious beliefs at the door.
People also seem to forget that David Norris is a Christian. That didn’t stop half this website supporting him.
I think there is a big difference with being a christian and a neo-catholic!!!
For someone so opposed to religion you use the Lord’s name pretty frequently
the Lord s name sounds very religious to me
Exactly, Unitedpeople Ireland. Church & State has to b seperated & kept seperated. Let religious leaders preach their respective faiths & let a Govt legislate for the country free from inteference.
So only atheists can serve in political office?
I know no one here believes that, but it seems that people only dislike Dana because she’s more devout in her religious that others. Norris might be very devout in his religion too, the only difference being that Dana is more public about her religious views.
Can someone answer the question as to how making Dana president somehow re-links the church and state? The president cannot enact laws, at worst they can refer them to the courts for a test of their constitutionality.
I’m going to judge Dana on her personality and character, NOT on her religious and political views.
In my opinion the problem with Dana isnt that she has a religion its that she is radical with her religious views. No one is saying that only atheists can be president but i would not want someone like Dana who is so militant with her views to be representing this country. Especially since the catholic church has done so much damage to this country.
There should be no link at all between church and state. Religion is a personal choice and should not be enforced on everyone else which has happened in this country since its inception. This must end for good. There are doubts over what Danas agenda would be if elected. The president does get a lot of publicity and would she abuse it for some religious crusade.
Also you have to ask the question what would she do if she was to sign a bill to legalize abortion or gay marriage for example . Would she do her duty or would she be spouting religious abuse at everyone!
Plus she is no qualified, she was an MEP for one term and failed, failed to become a TD and failed twice at getting elected president, no one wants her.
Dana International would be brillo and she could have Norris in the Áras any time.
aras arse…..very similar
Oh no please tell me it’s not true…. Be careful what you wish for !
when David announced his departure from the race i’d pretty much decided to not vote or spoil my vote with his name, but now Dana has convinced me not to, I’ll be voting alright, for anyone but her!
where,s that bloody turkey gone
My initial reaction was…OH CHRIST.
But now when I look at it, I would rather her than whats left
ah no, i couldnt cope with that! please please spare me Dana! i promise i will be good!
i will surely crawl if she is ‘in.’ anything please, please i beg of you…spare me Dana, no Dana please. i will eat my greens promise!
All kinds of everything trying to get into the aras who’s next ?
I did that joke already pal.
you are no pal of mine
I’d welcome Dana on the ballot sheet with open arms – after the way she was blocked by “the system” from running in 2004, she more than deserves to run this time round! Go Dana! :-)
Yea, go Dana… Over a cliff!
I wonder are all the thumbs down from self-purported “liberals” who were up in arms when David Norris didn’t get his chance?
No actually, Maria, some liberals like myself felt that Norris’s candidacy was only going to bring about a persistent effort to dish sufficient dirt on him to bring him into disrepute. Ireland isn’t that far yet and assuming that everyone is loved up about minority groups enough to place a member of two on the presidency was a huge mistake which will only intensify the growing backlash against liberalism, egalitarianism and the left in Ireland.
That’s very presumptious of u, Maria. To assume commentators are all “liberals”. I’m not a “Liberal”. I personally think some ( not all ) “liberals” are very dogmatic & are reluctant to take on other peoples point of views. I just would not like to see her become President & I am relieved David N bowed out. Personally I find him annoying. Just experssing my point of view. I take on board other’s point of view as I hope others take on mine.
Did you notice, Declan, that I said, “I wonder”? I’ve just observed that quite a lot of people who, a few days ago, were all into giving David Norris a chance seem to have a different attitude when it comes to Dana. She’s as entitled as anyone else to put herself forward.
didnt someone on here wish for this in another comment section – its all their fault. now un-wish it please.
She’s not a “former Eurovision winner”. She will always be a Eurovision winnner. Anyone who has met the woman knows that she would make a superb President. For months we were told to believe that David Norris’s views wouldn’t impact his position if he became President. Now watch the same people who told us that, trying to tell us that Dana’s views would stop her being a good President. Dana has all the qualities we need in a President.
She did such a great job in Connaght / Ulster that she was voted out after 1 term. At least the independent candidate who came after he (Marion Larkin) got involved in the community and did something. I don’t remember Dana doing anything of note during her term.
They changed he constituency Alpine and let’s not forget that Higgins has lost six elections in his time.
Easy on the hysterics there “United People of Ireland”. I don’t think she would make much of a difference and she won’t get in.
FWIW: it’s disappointing Norris didn’t get to the ballot paper because he was popular enough in the polls to merit it. Dana probably won’t be popular enough to merit a position her name on the ballot, but at the same time probably wont make it that far.
Hysterics is right, he’d want to go outside and take the air.
She is so painful and boring.
Maybe Ronan (‘the schmile un ur face letsch me know that…..’) will throw his name in the hat (again). Did he not express interest the last time round ??
Not this disconnected idiot
from one extreme to the other
Dear God no.
Also to the newscaster on Newstalk she’s Scallon not Scanlon.
If she hangs tough and does not worry about negative press, I think she can at least begin, to help Ireland heal from it’s wounds of hurt and anger at clergy abuse. The “elephant in the room” none of you are mentioning, but is behind your implied but unwritten anger, towards fellow Catholics who have not shouldered that cross and have no idea how you feel. I think DANA’s kids are older now, and she can devote her time to helping the land of my ancestors. (Kelly’s from County Cork) Dana may be able to broker an acceptable “Level Headedness” in Irish Government that holds the line but does not cause World War III with the Vatican…over the Seal of Confession. I think as a mother, DANA will bring understanding and wisdom that she must feel she can help Ireland with. I think cooler heads is what Ireland needs right now. IMHO.
Well said Dixie :)
…And a dose of extreme religion.
…And look where its got the rest of the world so far!
Dear God …..No!
Anyone for Bertie?
Basset? YES
Another crooked, lying, two faced sod? HELL NO!
If we love our country, we must elect a president worthy of our love to represent her!
Where’s Bob Geldoff when ya need him?
I think I’d prefer the Healy Raes…. They could do a double act….
But honestly…
Dustin for president!
just what we need, another Catholic fundamentalist not to vote for!
echo the negativity above – i especially don’t care for her traditionalist catholic views. this election is turning into a elitist shuffle and i’m sick of it. we need proper representation of 21st century Irish people in the world. I can’t help but think that we might be better off just asking Mary to stick it out for another 7 years till some of the riffraff are beyond standing again.
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