Taoiseach: All presidential candidates must be 'up-front'

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has increased the pressure on Senator David Norris to publish letters of clemency he wrote on behalf of his former partner.

Mr Kenny said all candidates have "a duty to be up-front with the electorate" during the Presidential campaign.

Senator Norris wrote seven letters to various public officials in defence of his former partner accused of statuary rape of a 15-year-old boy.

Six of the letters remain unpublished and Senator Norris has said he cannot reveal their contents "for legal reasons".

But the Taoiseach said all of the candidates need to be honest with the electorate.

Mr Kenny said: "I think this is a case of where the people are going to have their say about who they want to represent this country in Aras an Uachtarain.

"From that point of view, I think that all the candidates have to be up-front with the electorate and the people, because they want to know - and they have a right to know - if they are going to make a decision to cast their votes."