Norris dismisses questions about clemency letters

EMBATTLED Senator David Norris shrugged off continued questioning about clemency letters for his former partner and insisted that voters had moved on from the issue.

Ahead of a TV debate among the presidential hopefuls last night, Mr Norris also claimed he had been “muzzled” by RTÉ with restrictions on his interview time.

He said he was being restricted on the Late Late Show as he was not being interviewed individually, as other candidates were, on the programme. RTÉ said the Independent candidate had already been interviewed alone on a recent show with host Ryan Tubridy, but that Mr Norris would be included in the seven-way debate with all candidates last night.

Mixing with shoppers and business owners in the heart of Dublin yesterday, Mr Norris insisted voters were not raising the issue of clemency letters with him.

“The Irish people have moved on. I was in Blanchardstown yesterday, I met crowds of people. There was no traction. So let’s move on, let’s get to the real issues.”

The issue of clemency letters has dogged the senator’s campaign ever since it emerged that he sought leniency for his former boyfriend, who was convicted of statutory rape of a 15-year-old in Israel.

Mr Norris is refusing to release the contents of letters sent to Israeli authorities.

Meanwhile, the Green Party leader Eamonn Ryan has sent a number of questions to the seven candidates in a move he claims will guide his members and supporters on who to vote for.

The questions include queries on how the seven might achieve the desire for national unity as cited in the Constitution.

Candidates were also asked to explain their greatest achievement and failing to date, and their greatest fears and hopes for the future.

Mr Ryan said that answers from the seven would be posted online and that the information would help highlight which candidate is “most able to be brief and honest and still have something of interest to say”.

Elsewhere, details for voting on the islands was released.

Ballot boxes for the two referenda and presidential election will be put out first on October 24 in Donegal South West, where 761 voters will be entitled to vote on Arranmore, Tory Island and Inishboffin and other places.

Residents in Mayo will have their chance to have their say the next day, when polling opens for the 184 voters on Clare Island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk.

October 26 will see voting taking place on Galway’s Aran Islands, while voters on islands in Cork South-West on the same day will go to the polls.

Just nine voters each live on Cork’s Dursey Island and Donegal’s Inishfree.

Candidates will continue to launch their campaigns over the coming days.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness will unveil his campaign tomorrow evening in Dublin, while businessman Sean Gallagher will also launch his in the capital tomorrow.

Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell will launch his on Monday, while Independent Mary Davis is expected to host her launch on Tuesday and David Norris’s office said his campaign would be rolled out then too.

Dana’s campaign team have yet to decide on a day for her launch.