Higgins denies any involvement in Norris revelations

LABOUR presidential candidate Michael D Higgins has denied that any of the weekend revelations regarding David Norris and his former partner were leaked by his campaign or anyone associated with him.

The presidential campaigner refused to comment on the substance of the new information regarding Senator Norris but said it was “a very difficult time” for the Norris campaign.

Speaking in Waterford city where he attended the annual Spraoi parade and met with members of the public, Mr Higgins said he knew nothing about the latest problems to hit the Norris presidency bid.

“I’m concentrating on my own campaign, I’ve been very busy — it’s not a matter on which I’d express any opinion.”

Recent days saw him attending events in Co Donegal, Sligo, Waterford and Cork, with the presidential election still almost three months away.

Opinion polls have put the popular Labour TD and former minister running third behind David Norris and Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell, but the fresh controversy regarding Senator Norris may change that standing.

“I see some of the papers today suggesting and speculating on the source of this most recent development,” the Labour candidate said. “I can tell you that it was certainly not anybody in my campaign or anyone associated with me in any way. I don’t approve of or indulge in that kind of politics.”

Mr Higgins said he wouldn’t comment on whether David Norris — who has yet to secure a nomination from sufficient Oireachtas members or local authorities — should withdraw. “The only thing I have to say about David Norris’s campaign is that I wish the issue of who was standing was over and we got on with a real debate about what we want to do about the presidency and how we’re going do it and implement it over a seven-year period.”

He described the method of nominating presidential candidates — the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities — as outdated. “The system is an archaic one but it’s the system we have. On October 27 that’s the system on which people will vote.”