THERE HAS been a mixed reaction from Independent members of the Oireachtas to the efforts by Senator David Norris to relaunch his presidential campaign.
Political attention will now focus on his planned appearance tonight on RTÉ's Late Late Showwhere he is likely to appeal for support for a nomination on the basis that polls show he has significant public support.
He requires the signatures of 20 members of the Oireachtas or the support of four city or county councils to enter the presidential race.
The Senator appeared to have a good prospect of reaching that total at the end of July until a letter was published in which he had appealed for clemency on behalf of a former partner facing a charge of statutory rape in Israel.
Donegal Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who withdrew his support at that time, was adamant last night he would not go back on that decision. "I won't be changing my position," he told The Irish Times, adding that, if he had been aware of the letter initially, he would not have agreed to sign the nomination paper. "While people may want him as a candidate, I have the right to my own choice of whom I will support," he said. He was receiving "10 e-mails a day" urging him to back Senator Norris.
Another TD who withdrew his initial support, Waterford Independent John Halligan, said he was unlikely to change his mind.
“I withdrew my support over the letter, because he didn’t offer any sympathy to the victim,” he said. “If a priest had abused a 15-year-old here in Ireland and a bishop had written a letter on his behalf, and not mentioned the victim, there would be outrage.”
Dublin North-Central TD Finian McGrath said he and some of the other Independents would only consider a change of mind on democratic grounds, if the Senator was just short of 20 signatures.
“They mightn’t necessarily agree with somebody but they might sign it to ensure that there is an inclusive election,” he said.
Asked what he would do if the Senator approached him to complete a nomination list, he said: “That’s a dilemma I will have to discuss with my election team, my election workers.”
Ronan Mooney, a spokesman for the group behind the website wewantnorris.com, said it would be presenting Senator Norris with 10,000 signatures at Leinster House this afternoon in support of his nomination. “The motivation is to have a fair and democratic election that includes David Norris. It is evident that the selection process is flawed and restrictive, particularly for independents.”
A group of Independent members of the Oireachtas met briefly at lunchtime yesterday with Senator Norris and another presidential aspirant, Mary Davis, who has already secured her nomination.
Among those present were Deputies Pringle, Halligan, McGrath, Maureen O’Sullivan, Catherine Murphy, Shane Ross and Senator Ronan Mullen. A source said Senator Norris was asked if there were any more embarrassing political revelations to come and he replied that his conscience was clear.
