The votes of four Fianna Fail councillors secured a presidential nomination from Kerry County Council for Dana in a surprise move at yesterday's meeting. Other council members had received a written request from the singer asking that her nomination be considered. The item on the agenda of the monthly meeting had not been expected to generate debate.
However, the aftermath of the recent general election in which two Fianna Fail councillors, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae and Breandain Mac Gearailt, ran as Independent candidates allowed the chairmanship pass to an Independent councillor, Mr P.J. Cronin.
Proposing the nomination, Mr Cronin said he was quoting Edmund Burke: "Even if I disagree with what you say I will defend your right to say it." He said the council should at least agree to the nomination to allow Dana go forward. After that it would be up to the people to decide.
His proposal was seconded by fellow Independent, Mr James Courtney, who said local authorities rarely had the opportunity to play a part in the nomination of a person for high office. Mr Courtney felt Dana had honoured the council by putting her name before members and she was the only candidate to have done so. Fianna Fail councillor Brian O'Leary supported the proposal. He felt Dana was entitled to receive a nomination although he would not support her campaign.
He was supported by fellow party members, Mr Ted Fitzgerald and Mr Ned O'Sullivan, who said Dana should at least be given the opportunity of standing. Mr Healy-Rae said he was "delighted to see a lady in the field and a new air of agreement in the council chamber".
Fianna Fail councillor and former TD, Mr Tom McEllistrim, said his party would nominate Cllr Dan Barry said his party would also nominate its own candidate. He had been informed it would constitute a breach of party rules for any party member to support another nomination. He asked that his party colleagues abstain in a vote. Ms Breda Moynihan-Cronin TD (Labour) indic ated that Labour members of the council would also abstain.
Mr Tom Fleming (FF) then asked Mr McEllistrim to withdraw his motion, saying that as a democratic party Fianna Fail should not deny the right of any candidate to go forward. Mr Denis Foley TD (FF) said that while he would not vote against the nomination, neither could he support it. Senator Paul Coughlan (FG) said it would be hypocritical of party members to support Dana's nomination and then canvass for party candidates.
When a vote was called the proposal to nominate Dana was carried by eight votes to two with Independent councillors Cronin, Courtney, Tommy Foley and Healy-Rae supported by four Fianna Fail councillors, O'Leary, O'Sullivan, Fleming and Fitzgerald.
Two councillors, McEllistrim (FF) and Cahill (FF), opposed the nomination while 10 councillors abstained, Barry (FG), Buckley (FG), Coughlan (FG), Conor Scarteen (FG), Kissane (FG), O'Connell (FG), Foley (FF), Kiely (FF), Moynihan Cronin (Labour) and Leahy (Labour).
The successful motion nominating Dana at Longford County Council was proposed by a Fine Gael councillor, Ms Philo Kelly. ail member Mr Mickey Nevin (FF) said he admired Ms Kelly and was disappointed that none of her Fine Gael colleagues backed her motion. "We in the Fianna Fail party fear no opposition, least of all Dana," Mr Nevin said.
The motion was seconded by an Independent councillor, Mr Peter Murphy, who said: "I won't be voting for Dana but it's her democratic right to run. We have a man running from Longford . . .and most Longford people will be voting for him."