David Norris: Ban welfare recipients from buying alcohol

Social welfare recipients should be banned from buying alcohol as it wastes taxpayers’ money, Independent senator David Norris has declared.

Mr Norris shocked listeners and fellow politicians yesterday as he hit out at those on the dole using their payments to buy alcohol.

In an interview on Newstalk radio, the former presidential candidate said: “I hear people on the wireless saying: ‘Oh, what about the poor people on social welfare and them being deprived of the few drinks?’ I don’t spend my tax dollars to buy drinks for people on social welfare. I really don’t and I resent that. I think that it’s ridiculous that tax dollars are being used to fund drinking.”