Sir, – The claim in your editorial of July 20th that “Obstruction by Fine Gael at local authority level has denied Senator David Norris the required number of council nominations” is wholly incorrect. It flies in the face of the reality that two candidates have managed to secure statements of intent towards their nominations from a number of local authorities, despite the alleged diktat from the Fine Gael leadership. They were able, for various reasons, whether good or bad, to convince a sufficient number of local authorities to indicate an inclination to nominate them. To date, Mr Norris has been able to do so with one local authority.
As a Fine Gael member I would very much welcome the presence of Mr Norris in the presidential race. Yet I find the notion being advanced in this editorial and beyond that there is some obligation on Fine Gael – and Fine Gael alone – to ensure his presence in the contest, and that the party’s failure to support him actively is the sole cause of his not getting nominated, to be frankly perverse. Even where Fine Gael local authority members have abstained, he has been unable to secure a nomination.
I might find that to be regrettable, but it is hardly the fault of Fine Gael.
The Labour Party is in a position to work with other councillors in all four of the Dublin local authorities to nominate Mr Norris if they so wish or they could use their increased numbers in the Oireachtas to nominate both Mr Norris and their candidate, Michael D Higgins. Yet there are no public calls for them to do so.
If there is an obligation on the body politic to ensure the widest possible field for the highest office in the land, despite the peculiar and restrictive nature of the nomination process, then that obligation does not rest with any one political party. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Once again, your paper would seem to be championing Senator David Norris’s run for the presidency.
Mr Norris knows what is required. If he fails to convince councils or members of the Oireachtas to support his nomination, he cannot run. This is no indictment on the system. It is a simple declaration that Mr Norris does not enjoy the required support. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I demand my democratic right to disregard David Norris’s name on the ballot paper in the upcoming presidential election.
The fact that he has not yet received a nomination, despite his popularity, is undemocratically depriving my fellow citizens of their right to vote for him and me my right to ignore him.
Frankly, I don’t think he is suitable as he has an unfortunate habit of saying damn silly things.
Despite this, I believe he should be given the opportunity to run in the election. – Yours, etc,