The startling success of Dana in securing a presidential nomination has shaken the political establishment and thrown the election campaign wide open. Following her effective application of a little-used constitutional mechanism, under which five local authorities nominated her yesterday, the Derry-born singer, whose married name is Mrs Rosemary Scallon, denied that she would be "a one-issue candidate" because of her strong antiabortion position.
In spite of a recommendation from Fine Gael not to support a non-party candidate, Dana managed to secure cross-party support in local authorities in Donegal, Wicklow, Longford, Tipperary North Riding and Kerry. She has become the first officially selected candidate in the race to succeed Mrs Mary Robinson as the State's eighth President.
As Labour prepares to formally nominate the anti-nuclear campaigner Ms Adi Roche as a candidate today, and as the Fine Gael parliamentary party votes to select its choice for the contest to be held on October 30th, attention is turning to Fianna Fail's selection meeting tomorrow.
Widespread unease is reported in the party that the Presidency issue has been allowed drift, without direction or focus. The delay by the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, in declaring his intentions is being blamed for contributing to the confusion. With two high-profile women already in the field, Fianna Fail ministers last night talked of the possibility of Queens University law lecturer, Prof Mary McAleese, emerging as a candidate in order to avoid the prospect of a by-election.
It is widely acknowledged in Fianna Fail that her entry last week to the contest for a nomination came extremely late and left her too far behind the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, who has been campaigning for several months.
But her nomination would avoid a by-election which the Fianna Fail leadership fears it would lose, thus reducing the Government's Dail strength.
Senior sources in the party last night said there was a rising swell of support for Prof McAleese and for the possibility of the Minister for Defence, Mr Andrews, declaring himself a late entry.
The Minister is due back in Dublin today from India and consultations will begin at once with party colleagues, including the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. The prospect of a by-election defeat in Mr Andrews's Dun Laoghaire constituency will be the major factor but sources said he would also require substantial backing in advance before permitting his name to go forward.
Mr Michael O'Kennedy TD, who is also contesting the Fianna Fail nomination, welcomed the decision of five county councils to nominate Dana. As a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, he believed the "restrictive" current nominating procedures would be changed by referendum.
Fianna Fail effectively permitted the nomination of Dana as a presidential candidate by allowing a free vote to its councillors. Some sources said the party could not be seen to block her attempts merely to enter the race but others said the failure to issue a direction was an indication of "the ad-hoc approach" being taken to the election up to now.
Fine Gael sources last night indicated there may be disciplinary action against councillors who supported the singer's nomination. The party's general secretary, Mr Jim Miley, wrote to councillors saying the party would have its own candidate in the field and instructing them not to assist the arrival of another contender.
However, in Longford, a Fine Gael councillor of 30 years standing, Ms Philo Kelly, supported Dana, while in Donegal she got the backing of another Fine Gael councillor, Mr Seamus Gill. In explaining her decision to accept the Labour party nomination, Ms Roche said she had "listened to a lot of people" in recent months and had been consistently asked to consider allowing her name to go forward as a candidate.
Democratic Left is expected to announce today that it will support Ms Roche's nomination. Following discussions with the Labour leader, Mr Dick Spring, the DL leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, said members of his party had always admired Ms Roche, whom he described as "a formidable candidate".
Ms Roche will be formally endorsed by the Labour parliamentary party and general council today and will then hold a press conference.
In Newman House in Dublin, the Fine Gael parliamentary party will vote between 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. on whether the former Minister of State, Senator Avril Doyle or the Dublin MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, should represent the party. The result will be announced by the parliamentary party chairman, Mr Phil Hogan, shortly after 4.00 p.m.