Norris, more abuse of power

MMAIRELANDFAN · 03-10-2011 10:32AM #1

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/norris-made-seanad-plea-on-behalf-of-second-foreign-lover-2894088.html

This is unreal

PRESIDENTIAL candidate David Norris has become embroiled in a new controversy as reports emerge that he lobbied the Seanad in 2007 in an attempt to get Irish citizenship for his then Algerian boyfriend.

According to reports in The Sun newspaper, the independent senator -- who is already under pressure over letters he wrote seeking clemency for a Palestinian boyfriend who had been convicted of statutory rape -- made a plea in the Seanad after his partner, Tevfik Akin, had his citizenship application refused.

monkeybutter · 03-10-2011 10:35AM

No it's not

monkeybutter · 03-10-2011 10:36AM

Is the M M A Ireland Fan

Martin McGuinness for the Aras Fan? Is that what it means?

qz · 03-10-2011 10:37AM

MMAIRELANDFAN wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/norris-made-seanad-plea-on-behalf-of-second-foreign-lover-2894088.html

This is unreal

Eh, doesn't seem that controversial to me. His then-partner tried to get citizenship and Norris tried to help him to achieve that. The guy wasn't convicted of statutory rape or apparently any other crime.

"Mr Akin has since been granted citizenship and now works as an attendant in St James's Hospital in Dublin. He and Senator Norris are no longer in a relationship."

What's the big deal?

MMAIRELANDFAN · 03-10-2011 10:38AM

monkeybutter wrote: »

Is the M M A Ireland Fan

Martin McGuinness for the Aras Fan? Is that what it means?

Mixeed Martial Arts, im actually voting Mary Davis

Morlar · 03-10-2011 10:38AM

It looks like he was repeatedly using his position in Irish Political life to advance the interests of his private, personal life.

I think the lack of coverage of this in the wider Irish media is pretty interesting, compared to the days of last week before he was even a candidate when he was on the front page of every news site/paper/tv channel.

wes · 03-10-2011 10:38AM

I don't see any issue here. This is nothing compared to the other incident at all.

siltirocker · 03-10-2011 10:39AM

Abuse of power. Simple as.

Millicent · 03-10-2011 10:40AM

MMAIRELANDFAN wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/norris-made-seanad-plea-on-behalf-of-second-foreign-lover-2894088.html

This is unreal

To be fair, I've a problem with him pleading for clemency for Ezra Nawi as he committed a crime. Pleading for asylum for people is not limited to David Norris -- countless politicians have done the same.

Chuck Stone · 03-10-2011 10:40AM

We could be doing with a 'Norris revelations' containment thread.

hooradiation · 03-10-2011 10:41AM

I'm outraged.

Wait. no, no I'm not. Not in the slightest.

Wompa1 · 03-10-2011 10:41AM

Morlar wrote: »

It looks like he was repeatedly using his position in Irish Political life to advance the interests of his private, personal life.

That's true but I bet every politician has and I'm not a Norris fan. It doesn't really help his case as a man of character. By the sounds of things he made a very grand appeal in front of the Seanad which most people don't get to do...so you could say that is an abuse of power but if you don't think other politicians are doing this sort of thing then I envy your world view!

MitchKoobski · 03-10-2011 10:41AM

He tried to help a partner get citizenship by appealing to the Seanad. Yer man eventually did get citizenship and now works for St. James' Hospital.

Wheres the abuse of power?

Yahew · 03-10-2011 10:41AM

It helps to have a senator who is a lover. However, any TD or Senator can make personal representations for constituents, or lovers, or whomever. Its the basis of Irish clientelism.

Staplor · 03-10-2011 10:42AM

This is a non story, every politician who "fixed the road" or lobbied for planning permission did the exact same thing.

Morlar · 03-10-2011 10:42AM

Millicent wrote: »

To be fair, I've a problem with him pleading for clemency for Ezra Nawi as he committed a crime. Pleading for asylum for people is not limited to David Norris -- countless politicians have done the same.

Most politicians aren't sticking their dick in the people they lobby for. Not literally anyhow.

sensibleken · 03-10-2011 10:42AM

wait....HE'S GAY?????:eek:

qz · 03-10-2011 10:42AM

Morlar wrote: »

I think the lack of coverage of this in the wider Irish media is pretty interesting, compared to the days of last week before he was even a candidate when he was on the front page of every news site/paper/tv channel.

Are we being exposed to the same media? Norris has been nothing but at the forefront of every possible skeleton-exposing smear "revelations" over the last number of months.

Millicent wrote: »

To be fair, I've a problem with him pleading for clemency for Ezra Nawi as he committed a crime. Pleading for asylum for people is not limited to David Norris -- countless politicians have done the same.

+1.

Chuck Stone wrote: »

We could be doing with a 'Norris revelations' containment thread.

Could probably fill its own forum at this stage :rolleyes:

Hannibal Smith · 03-10-2011 10:43AM

How on earth is it an abuse of power? These things happen with politicians all the time. A friend/constituent/neighbour/partner has a grievance, they do what they can to get to the bottom of it.

The Independent really need to stop trying to make scandals where there are none and just let the candidates get on with it.

seamus · 03-10-2011 10:43AM

Morlar wrote: »

I think the lack of coverage of this in the wider Irish media is pretty interesting

Not really. They know there's nothing in it, because you'd be hard pressed to find a politician who hasn't made representations for someone attempting to get citizenship or secure a passport, or get additional social welfare allowance, or any other of a range of things that politicians do.

The fact that the man was his partner is kind of irrelevant. Anyone who says that they wouldn't do the same for a partner or spouse if they were in the same position is a complete liar.

There's no illegality or abuse of position here. An abuse of position is when you use your power to make illegitimate gains for yourself or another. Making representations to a state body is not an abuse of power.

At this stage the mud slinging is just getting pathetic. Find a new record, lads.

hooradiation · 03-10-2011 10:44AM

but the magic formula is Norris + letter = Outrage.

Everyone knows that!

maygitchell · 03-10-2011 10:49AM

sensibleken wrote: »

wait....HE'S GAY?????:eek:

It shocking isnt it? Probably bummed people too and all :rolleyes:

My name is URL · 03-10-2011 10:49AM

It's hardly a revelation when it happened, on record, in the Seanad.

Millicent · 03-10-2011 10:50AM

Morlar wrote: »

Most politicians aren't sticking their dick in the people they lobby for. Not literally anyhow.

Lovely. Point is, it's a bit unseemly, but it's not all that different to writing a letter for Mrs. Murphy's daughter who grew up down the road from you, or advocating for your best friend.

I'm sure plenty of politicians have lobbied for people they've had sexual encounters/relationships with, just that those don't get publicised.

dvpower · 03-10-2011 10:51AM

Yet another Norris non story.
Yesterday's non story was the assisted suicide one. Now this.

Are there journalists employed full time to go through all of Norris' past senate contributions looking for any hint of controversy?

I wouldn't mind, but there are some real controversies out their involving Norris, like the unpublished letters. Do we really need the sideshows?

gk5000 · 03-10-2011 10:51AM

Other politians make representations and lobby, but they don't make grandiose appeals on the floor of the senate or dail for their personal causes.

And besides, what has Norris as Senator done for the public this last 5,10, 20 years?

MMAIRELANDFAN · 03-10-2011 10:52AM

if you read it correct he more or less threatened to find out who black marked him and also accused people of been prejudice because he was a muslim-totally put the people who make these decisions in an awkward position, without having any good reason for him been given irish nationality

stevenmu · 03-10-2011 10:53AM

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

How on earth is it an abuse of power? These things happen with politicians all the time. A friend/constituent/neighbour/partner has a grievance, they do what they can to get to the bottom of it.

The Independent really need to stop trying to make scandals where there are none and just let the candidates get on with it.

IMO it's an abuse of power every time any of them do it. And I'm pretty sure Sen. Norris has spoken out against it.

Yahew · 03-10-2011 10:53AM

gk5000 wrote: »

Other politians make representations and lobby, but they don't make grandiose appeals on the floor of the senate or dail for their personal causes.

Plenty of personal cases are brought up in the Dail.

And besides, what has Norris as Senator done for the public this last 5,10, 20 years?

very little, no doubt. but probably more than most.

Merch · 03-10-2011 10:54AM

Staplor wrote: »

This is a non story, every politician who "fixed the road" or lobbied for planning permission did the exact same thing.

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

How on earth is it an abuse of power? These things happen with politicians all the time. A friend/constituent/neighbour/partner has a grievance, they do what they can to get to the bottom of it.

So because it happens all the time, its ok
That doesnt make it ok, far from it. We should be stamping out the kind of lobbying on behalf of someone thats known attitude.

Politicians shouldnt be affecting whether a road gets fixed, thats up to a local council, the money could be put to better use that serves more of the community, Ive come across instances of this where the road was the drive up of the person being lobbied for.

If that chap was applying for citizenship, there is a process, Im sure anyone else that has had to go through the process legitimately will find this somewhat unfair, given the wait was usually years and at some cost.
before anyone says, I consider someone lobbying on his lovers behalf undermining that process, how could it be viewed any other way.

I guess I didnt know as much about Mr Norris as I thought, excepting all this writing letters for people Id have voted for him, now he looks as bad or worse than any other politician, seems to think he's above normal rules and behaviour.

Yahew · 03-10-2011 10:54AM

wonder if Shinners are getting annoyed with Norris. He has to have reduced McGuinness' chances.

Norris, more abuse of power

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