THE LIST of presidential hopefuls grew to eight yesterday with a declaration by former MEP and Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana Rosemary Scallon that she is seeking a nomination.
Ms Scallon came third in the last presidential election in 1997 as an Independent candidate nominated by county councils.
She faced a sceptical news media at a press conference in Dublin yesterday where she was asked why she had left it so late to enter the race and whether she had any real prospect of getting on the ballot paper. She brushed aside the question, saying: “We still have a good number of Independents who are not committed.”
She conceded she was seeking support from “any and all quarters” including members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
But the prospect of Fianna Fáil allowing its members to nominate “all kinds of everything” for the presidency was receding last night.
Senior party sources said: “If Micheál Martin is to have any credibility he has to put his foot down, unless there is a compromise with Éamon Ó Cuív.”
At a six-hour party meeting last Thursday, Mr Ó Cuív threatened to resign as deputy leader if Mr Martin went ahead with a motion that would have prevented Fianna Fáil even from nominating Independent candidates. Potential nominees in this category included Fianna Fáil Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, Trinity Senator David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon.
The proposal was discussed on its merits last week but, in the interim, it has come to be seen as a leadership issue, with Mr Martin’s future as head of the party on the line.
Sources also said different views expressed in a TV3 documentary by Mr Martin and Mr Ó Cuív on the possible need for a new party name had been misinterpreted as a challenge by the deputy leader.
Senator Ó Murchú said he had an hour-long meeting with Mr Martin at Leinster House yesterday which was “very amicable and constructive”.
Presidential candidates require the support of 20 TDs and/or Senators to secure a nomination, and Mr Ó Murchú claims to have the support of 10 Fianna Fáil members, subject to their getting permission from the party, and five Independents.
In other developments, Independent candidate Mary Davis secured the backing of local authorities in Louth and North Tipperary, bringing to 12 the number of councils supporting her nomination.
Independent TD for Dublin North-Central Finian McGrath justified his decision to nominate Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness on the basis that “there are times in our history when people have to take risks for peace”.