We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
SEVEN CANDIDATES will contest this year’s Presidential election – the highest number ever – after two more independent candidates yesterday secured their place on the ballot paper for next month’s election.
Yesterday two more independent candidates – former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon, and veteran Trinity College senator David Norris – both secured their place on the ballot papers thanks to the nomination of Ireland’s local authorities.
Scallon – who is trying to run for the office for a third time, having appeared on the ballot paper in 1997 and failed in a similar attempt to contest the 2004 election – won the backing of councils in Donegal and Offaly, giving her the four nominations she needs to contest the election.
Norris, who had won the support of Fingal earlier this summer but whose campaign had since faltered, completed a political renaissance when he won the support of the city councils in Waterford and Dublin, adding to the previous nomination of Laois.
Both of the independents who secured a space on the ballot yesterday benefited from the tactics of others: two of the councils nominating Dana – Donegal and Roscommon – had previously pledged their support for entrepreneur Sean Gallagher, who then asked them to withdraw their support as he had been nominated elsewhere.
Norris’s nomination at Dublin City Council was facilitated by his Labour Party rival Michael D Higgins, who appealed to his party’s councillors not to block Norris’s nomination.
Two more councils will hold scheduled meetings this morning where the nominations of the two candidates will be discussed, on foot of motions tabled before each had secured their spot on the ballot.
Kildare County Council meets at 8:30am to discuss a motion nominating Dana, while Kilkenny County Council meets at the same time to discuss motions nominating both candidates.
A motion nominating Dana was put to Cavan County Council last night, but was withdrawn on Scallon’s request. The former MEP and Eurovision winner, who attended that meeting, thanked the members for meeting nonetheless.
The field of seven will be the largest ever to contest a Presidential election in Ireland – beating the previous record set in 1997, when Dana was among the five candidates taking part.
That election had been the largest in history at the time, in part because Dana and Derek Nally were the first two candidates to secure a nomination through the local authority route.
Nominations for the election officially close at noon today, with Norris and Scallon joining Higgins, Gallagher, Gay Mitchell, Martin McGuinness and Mary Davis on the ballot paper.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Not another one !
Facebook wastes enough of my time.
No one wants another social networking site.
It looks like Facebook already.
What a waste of resources
Awful name.
A social network site aimed at older fold would be a winner. Oh no, wait, we prefer just to be in the same room as the person to whom we’re speaking. How old fashioned.
Sean, you meant older FOLK, didn’t you? Now just drink your Horlicks and go to bed.
So, Sean, what are you doing on Twitter?
Let me pass you the werthers originals there Sean
Thank you, Adrian. Ask nurse to turn off the light.
I giv u the new google plus
Microsofts “ideas” department’s next challenge is to take on the Super Nintendo
I’m not working there so its not defeatist talk but really? This will flop. Facebook does so many things better than anything they’ll come up with. Just leave it alone and try some other market.
google will usually produce (buy) better apps than microsoft, and they’re still not even in the race…
Now wheres the sign in with google here? Doh…
Facebook is a marketers wet dream. When those telephone directory size surveys land on your mat, offering the free carriage clock and fountain pen, do you fill them in? No! They go straight in the bin!
Yet people willingly sign over all their personal data (including the fact they flip their pillow to the cold side) in a heartbeat to social networks.
I stopped using Facebook about 3 years ago. Given their handling of privacy and constant T&C amendments and new feature bungles. I use Diaspora, Twitter and G+, but I limit the data I provide them and think before I post. If Socl can get right what Facebook gets wrong (taking Microsoft’s stake in the company to account) then they could be on to a winner.
In the words of The Miz on WWE Really. Microsoft feels left out they try to after another corp because they got beat before they let the world know about Bing.com. Really come on.
Microsoft really needs to just stick to enterprise software, on the consumer end they have no new ideas, they never had. They just copy everything badly, thats fine, the problem is that they do it about 4 years too late and waste cash. Look at the Zune player, Sliver-light and possibly Windows Mobile to name but a few.
I had a first-generation zune and it was a quality device… A lot better than the iPod in fact. Pity it didn’t sell better than it did, but it had no chance against apple.
Windows Mobile also looks good from any time that I have played with it….
have your say