Norris 'paedophilia' tape aired

A tape recording of a controversial interview in which presidential candidate Senator David Norris discussed paedophilia has been broadcast.

The recording of the conversation between Mr Norris and restaurant critic and columnist Helen Lucy Burke, in January 2002, was broadcast on RTÉ's Liveline this afternoon.

In the conversation, Mr Norris makes several controversial comments about the age of consent.

Mr Norris referred to “classic paedophilia” in ancient Greece, and asserted that there was “something to be said” for the approach in which a young man was introduced to sexual behaviour by an older man.

Excerpts from the interview were first published in Magill magazine in early 2002 and caused controversy at the time. The issue re-emerged earlier this year when Mr Norris first announced his presidential candidacy.

When Ms Burke spoke publicly about the interview in May, Mr Norris urged her to made the recording available in order to show that the remarks he had made were quoted out of context.

Speaking in Waterford this afternoon, Mr Norris said there is “absolutely nothing new” in the tape. “It’s all exactly the same matter and it has been dealt with,” he said.

During the conversation, Mr Norris says on a number of occasions he had no sexual interest in children and expresses his belief that there was confusion and hysteria over the subject of paedophilia.

"I cannot understand how anybody could find children of either sex the slightest bit attractive sexually. Because to me what is attractive about people is their maturity, and the fact that they display the signs of sexual maturity, and I think that is, if I may use a much abused word, normal," he said.

"Pre-pubescent children who lack any identifying characteristics of sexual maturity. I cannot understand why anybody would find them sexually appropriate," he added.

The Senator said "classic paedophilia", as practiced by the Greeks, was something that he would have found attractive.

"It is not something that appeals to me although when I was younger it would most certainly would have appealed to me in that sense that I would have greatly relished the prospect of an older, attractive, mature man taking me under his wing, lovingly introducing me to sexual realities and treating me with affection and teaching me about life. I think, yes, that would be lovely. I would have enjoyed that," he said.

"But I am sorry to say, I would let down the next generation because I wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in people who are considerably younger than me," he added.

Many of the controversial comments made by the Senator had already been published and Mr Norris had questioned Burke's decision to bring up the interview again when she appeared on the Today With Pat Kenny programme in May and expressed her opposition to Mr Norris's bid for the presidency.

Mr Norris said at the time the re-emergence of his comments was an attempt to sabotage his campaign to secure a nomination for the election.

The Senator later withdrew from the race for the Áras after it emerged he had written clemency letters for his former partner who had been found guilty of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy.

He later rejoined the race but the controversy has continued to haunt his campaign.