Ireland

Tributes paid to ‘champion of equality’ David Norris as he retires

Senator David Norris used his final speech in the Seanad to call for peace in Palestine.

Senator David Norris at an event marking the centenary of Seanad Eireann at Leinster House
Senator David Norris at an event marking the centenary of Seanad Eireann at Leinster House (Niall Carson/PA)
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

The President and Taoiseach have led tributes to Senator David Norris as he formally announced his retirement from political life after 36 years.

Mr Norris, a colourful activist for decades in Ireland, campaigned to abolish Ireland’s anti-homosexuality laws in the 1980s and pushed for progress on LGBT rights.

He was first elected to the Seanad in 1987 and has been returned in each of the nine elections since then, making him Ireland’s longest-serving senator.

The independent senator for Trinity also holds the longest continuous period of service in the upper house of the Oireachtas.

On Monday in the Seanad chamber, his fellow senators described him as “the lily amongst the briars”, one of Ireland’s finest debaters and “a champion for the under-privileged”.

His knowledge of and love for the works of Irish writer James Joyce were also praised.

In his final address in the Seanad chamber, Mr Norris said he wished to use the time to call for peace for Palestinians.

Mr Norris, who speaks Hebrew, said: “What is happening to the inhabitants of Gaza is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.

“Man’s inhumanity to man is our greatest shame and I have to say also that it goes completely against the Jewish ethic which is L’Chaim – to life.

“This present government under (Benjamin) Netanyahu has committed them instead of to life, to death. To death in overwhelming numbers for the unfortunate trapped citizens of Gaza. I deplore it completely.”

He also said that he will be campaigning for a Yes vote in the upcoming referenda on amending the Irish constitution.

He thanked his parliamentary assistant Miriam Smith, his election agent Brian Murray, the graduates who voted for him over the years, and his fellow colleagues in the Seanad.

Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer said that President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had conveyed their appreciation to Mr Norris.

Mr Higgins said he had an “illustrious career” and “a courage beyond the ordinary”, describing him as “a champion of equality, diversity that will continue to inspire future generations”.

Senator David Norris in his final appearance before Seanad Eireann.
Senator David Norris in his final appearance before Seanad Eireann.

Mr Varadkar praised his campaigning on behalf of LGBT issues, women and minority groups, and said he showed “true leadership” standing up for causes that were “unpopular, poorly understood, but above all appealing to our best instincts as human beings”.

Mr Buttimer, who is gay, said he owed him a “huge” debt of gratitude; Mr Norris was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland.

“Your passion hasn’t diminished as we can see from that final contribution,” Mr Buttimer added.

“As a member of the house, you have sponsored 34 Bills, and one as recently as February last year on domestic violence, which speaks to your lifetime commitment on social issues.

“Your Bills covered a wide, diverse range of topics, yet your primary focus was on issues on human rights and equalities – from the abolition of the death penalty, housing and homelessness, disability rights, mental health, the protection of the native Irish honey bee and the prohibition of conversion therapies.”

Fianna Fail senator Denis O’Donovan said that when Mr Norris came out as gay about 50 years ago it was a “courageous” thing to do and wasn’t “an easy decision” due to society’s attitudes at the time.

The former cathaoirleach said his contributions in the chamber were “forthright” and he “didn’t suffer fools gladly”.

Recalling the 2013 referendum in which people voted narrowly to retain the Seanad, Mr O’Donovan said that if it was not for David Norris and other independents, “this chamber would go back to a ballroom”.

Fine Gael senator Paddy Burke said that Mr Norris had “fought many battles in this house, sometimes alone”, and said he had “a way with words” as “one of the finest debaters in this country”.

Former justice minister and senator Michael McDowell said Mr Norris has championed the causes he believed in, and said that Irish society had “been transformed” in the years since he first became a senator.