Norris should consider the national interest

IT has been argued by thousands of human rights protestors, including Trocaire, in recent years that Ezra Nawi is merely a pacifist protestor in the mould of Mahatma Gandhi who has been unfairly prosecuted and convicted by the Israeli courts when he attempted to halt the Israeli Defence Forces demolition of Palestinians’ homes in South Hebron in July 2007.

But the intervention of Senator David Norris on his behalf more than a decade earlier must cast very serious doubts as to whether the Norris candidacy for President remains tenable in the light of the judgement displayed.

It is of supreme importance to the success of the Office of President that the incumbent is not the subject of prolonged personal controversy.

Controversy in this context would quickly degenerate into undermining of the dignity of the Office, esteem for the President and the dignity of the nation.

An important role for the next President will be to enhance the prestige of Ireland across the world — a daunting, nuanced and sophisticated challenge in the best of circumstances, but one that could not be realistically achieved if the President carries too much intrusive personal baggage connected to vested interests.

It would therefore be provident were Senator Norris to consider if his commitment to his ambition is really in the national interest, especially when so many in Ireland, whose voices and pain have been stifled for too long, are reeling for decades from the consequences of the adult rape of minors and other predatory criminal transgressions on their integrity.

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co. Dublin