WEXFORD:WEXFORD COUNTY Council deferred its decision on whether or not to nominate Senator Norris for the presidency yesterday.
Mr Norris impressed the members of Wexford County Council, but they decided to hear out three other Independent candidates before deciding whom, if any, to nominate.
In a 15-minute address he told the councillors that he had had a long association with Wexford, having holidayed in the county as a boy.
“I stand before you here today to become the ninth president of Ireland.
“I realise I am coming here in the shadow of charges put against me arising from some interviews I have done over the years. The inferences behind these charges I utterly reject . . . Under our Constitution, the people have given you the key to my candidacy as local legislators.”
Describing himself as no ordinary candidate, he said he had been a campaigner for 35 years.
He called on the councillors to undertake a leap of faith and support him.
“I believe I can effectively represent us at this time. We need a champion for all the people now, someone who can articulate our current position and has the energy and enthusiasm to help us create the dynamic new Ireland for which we are all striving.”
He said he was campaigning on three key issues; mental health, culture and enterprise.
North Wexford councillor Malcolm Byrne said the local authority was obliged to let as broad a range of candidates as possible go forward for president and said he hoped businessman and former Dragon’s Den judge Seán Gallagher, Special Olympics chief Mary Davis and Dr Pat Jones would all be on the ballot paper.
New Ross councillor Michael Sheehan asked Mr Norris if any more controversies would be forthcoming. He replied that he was misquoted and quoted out of context in interviews.
Council chairman Michael Kinsella said Ms Davis, Mr Gallagher and Dr Jones had written to the council and wished to address it and that this would happen over the next month.