SENATOR DAVID Norris has attempted to defuse the latest controversy surrounding his presidential bid by saying he will not be derailed by “a couple of sensational headlines”.
He appealed to councillors and Oireachtas members on whom his nomination depends to judge him on the basis of the views he has expressed since he launched his campaign on March 14th.
Senator Norris was responding to reports of comments he made in the past about issues such as the age of consent, abortion and prostitution.
“I don’t think that responsible people like councillors, who have a lot of responsibilities in their local area, or my fellow TDs and Senators, would actually feel it appropriate to judge me on a couple of sensationalised headlines . . . I think they would be more inclined to look at my deeds,” he added.
Mr Norris was quoted yesterday in a newspaper interview, first published a year ago, as saying he did not believe in an age of consent and that it was better to regulate prostitution than to make it illegal.
He said yesterday that while he accepted responsibility for everything he had said before his presidential campaign began, he wanted the focus to be on the kind of presidency he was offering.
“From March 14th I have behaved like a president and I am behaving more like a president all the time. And I feel I am being drawn towards and growing into the job. What I am asking now is that the councillors and my fellow members of the Oireachtas give me the opportunity to let the people decide.”
He said if people wanted to know his views on any subject they should look at his website norrisforpresident.ie.
“People have told me that the presidential campaign can get a bit difficult and things can be dug up and flung at you, but you have got to show the Irish people that you can rise to that challenge with dignity. That is what I am trying to do and the Irish people will judge.
“There were questions about the suitability of Mary Robinson [and] she got through that with flying colours; there were questions about the suitability of Mary McAleese – she got through that with flying colours; I anticipate and hope I will do the same,” he said.
