Dana's election manifesto included the following pledges. If elected, she would:
Represent Ireland with pride and dignity;
Endeavour to bring honour, unity and credit to the country I love;
Not be bought or compromised by any political agenda, vested interest or pressure group;
Represent all members of society, the weak and the strong, liberals and conservatives, believers and non-believers alike;
Uphold the Constitution and resist any attempts to politicise the Presidency;
Stay for the full term of the Presidency;
Still be Dana, wife and mother, one of the people, standing for the people.
At the formal launch of her campaign yesterday, she said she represented people who felt abandoned by all the political parties, people of conviction and belief who were tired of not being listened to. "The majority of people in Ireland are fed up of being portrayed as dated, stupid and irrelevant. They have had enough of intolerance dressed up as liberalism. I stand for them."
She said she was the only presidential candidate who would speak for all the people of Ireland and reflect their concerns rather than the values of a political party, major institution or vested interest.
"A mature, confident democracy like Ireland values all its people equally whether they be singers or sandwich-makers or lawyers, whether they be employed or not. It respects the inherent dignity of liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers."