Norris drums up support amid controversy

Presidential hopeful David Norris has written to his supporters amid continuing controversy over his personal views and comments in interviews.

It first arose last week when Senator Norris was forced to defend himself over a magazine article in 2001.

Today, the Irish Daily Mail has printed extracts from an interview they conducted with the senator last year.

In it he says he does not believe in an "age of consent" for sexual activity, but rather a "principle of consent".

Today, Senator Norris insisted he abhors any kind of abuse, but "there is an argument for looking at difficult cases, where a couple are close in age, but one person is slightly under the legal age of consent".

In the wake of the controversy, he has written to his supporters outlining his position on a number of issues including child protection, the Catholic Church and drugs.

Mr Norris said none of the interviews happened since he began his race for the Aras, and he doesn't take the prospect of being president lightly.