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David Norris confirms he is back in the race to become President of Ireland

Election to office would be ‘the biggest comeback in Irish political history’

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, September 17, 2011, 7:48 AM

Updated Saturday, September 17, 2011, 7:48 AM

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David Norris

David Norris is officially back in the race to become the next President of Ireland – but has yet to receive enough support to contest the election.

As expected the controversial Senator confirmed to Friday night’s Late Late Show on Irish television that he is to once again seek a nomination for the Presidency.

Norris was forced to quit in the summer after public outrage at his support for his former gay lover, convicted of the rape of a 15-year-old boy in Israel.

Public support in a number of opinion polls prompted the Norris u-turn but he has yet to receive enough support amongst members of the Irish parliament to actually get his name on the ballot paper.

“This would be the biggest comeback in Irish political history, I think people love a comeback,” Norris told host Ryan Tubridy. “People understand the idea of a second chance.”

Declining to reveal how many senators or deputies will back his nomination – he needs 20 signatures to run – Norris admitted to facing a real battle on the day Sinn Fein outlined plans to run Martin McGuinness as their candidate.

“It is a fight of course it is, I like a fight,” he said. “This is a poker game,” added Senator Norris who also admitted to his own shortcomings.

“I’m not perfect and I’m not pretending to be perfect. If you’re waiting for a perfect president, you’ll be waiting a long time.”

Senator Norris also explained that the decision to quit the presidential race was a hard one to take. “It wasn’t an easy time, but you get tempered in the fire” he said.

He also condemned the actions of his former partner in Israel. “I was appalled, shocked and horrified on hearing of the conviction. I did not condone or excuse it. I abhor abuse of children.”

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Trealach | Sep 18, 2011, 01:17 PM EDT

Norris is NOT a candidate for the Presidency since he has NOT got the 20 Oireachtas signatures required for him to become a candidate. The most he had was 15, he's lost the support of 4, which means it is virtually impossible for him to gain the remaining 9 to reach the 20. With McGuinness now selected by Sinn Fein with the support of 3 Independent T.D's, he is a candidate.

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Towngate | Sep 18, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

barneyjo: Perhaps you are confused. There is no such sub-text in my Comment here. Where have I ever said such a thing? Then you go on to attack me with your false argument! Barney, you are 'tilting at windmills' and pushing an open dor at the same time! Now, that may be the legacy of years of strife and is understandable and acceptable. What worries me more is your contention that the forty year effort by all sides to reach an Agreement was in order to facilitate a "political whirlwind" revenge attack on 'Dublin'! If that is the purpose of the Sinn Fein candidate, then perhaps they should make it quite clear to the Irish Electorate as soon as possible! Slainte!

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JohnJoe4444 | Sep 18, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

No thank you to McGuinness or to Norris. Not interested in anybody with a history of shooting from behind.

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CanadianPat | Sep 18, 2011, 12:38 PM EDT

Has lost his wings and hasn't a prayer! The only real choise is Martin McGuiness!

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barneyjo | Sep 18, 2011, 06:47 AM EDT

@Towngate - come now, you're being totally disingenuous surely. The sub-text of your post is that a candidate from Northern Ireland would be unacceptable to the Irish electorate. The lessons of history are not on your side I fear, bearing in mind, I remember similar observations were made about Mary McAleese and her candidacy. I'm from "the six" and I am a child of the troubles. I am old enough to remember when the Nationalist community in the north was abandoned to fend for ourselves for so long by the political establishment in Dublin. Well, its payback time, and there's a political whirlwind coming your way. And there is nothing that anyone in Dublin can do to stop it!!

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pilib04 | Sep 17, 2011, 04:55 PM EDT

It's called politics. Now that Martin McGuinness is in the race, the Gombeen from Labour and the Blue Shirts will get as many candidates in the race as possible to divide and fracture the vote. However, none have the presence as Martin McGuinness who has led Northern Ireland out of the wilderness of war into a peace. No one can say that they worked running a government with the likes of Ian Paisley. Norris should step aside.

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LoyalCitizen | Sep 17, 2011, 03:40 PM EDT

He's not worth the ink on the voting slip......When the going gets tough he will run and cry in a darkened room hoping nobody will notice.

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hollabackgurl | Sep 17, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

Now it's a race.

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Towngate | Sep 17, 2011, 08:33 AM EDT

David Norris weakened his standing by running from the last storm. Will he do the same every time the going gets rough again? BUT: The fact that his public popularity didn't wane when he quit, indicated he surely deserves another crack at it! Especially now Sinn Fein have offered what I hope will not prove to be a 'sacrificial lamb' in Martin McGuinness. I look forward to the next Poll to see what happens to their percentage shares. My guess is that the People of Ireland would prefer one apolitical Norris - with all his failings - to fifty 'political activists' like McGuinness.

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