David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A total distraction. The reason for the distraction was that none of the stuff about the Presidency was on the Constitutional Convention's programme. I managed to squeeze on a motion about opening up the Presidency to popular nomination. I was accused of doing it for my own ends, but I have no intention of going for that particular job again. It was an altruistic motion. The people should have a say. The motion went through by 96%, by far the highest percentage of any vote taken by the convention, but what has the Government done about it? Nothing. It produced a farce about the Presidential age.