Senator David Norris rarely shirks from an opportunity to touch base with the public. He talks to JOE about living it up in Rio de Janeiro and his beloved Jaguar.
We fired off an email with some quick questions for Senator Norris in a bid to get his thoughts on women drivers, his sporting successes and more. Here’s how he responded.
Do you use a Mac or PC?
I use a Mac when I don’t want to get wet and I use the W.C. for the same reason.
What mobile phone do you own?
A reconditioned Nokia.
What type of car do you drive?
A third hand Jaguar which I bought for €7,500. It’s a bit of a gas guzzler but I appreciate the comfort of its luxurious interior, its reliability and the way it floats along the road. However, I only occasionally use it – mainly for long journeys to places that don’t have a good rail, bus or air connection.
Who are better drivers? Men or women?
Both men and women span the full range of driver personality from brilliant to lousy. The only thing I notice as a result of my mature years is that in recent times young women particularly can be equally competitive at the traffic lights.
Any sporting glories you like to brag about?
Scoring the winning try in a rugby match against CBS Monkstown 50 years ago and in the last couple of decades completing three Dublin marathons successfully.
What would be your dream sports trip?
To anything that takes place in Rio de Janeiro – one of my favourite cities in the world. Would the carnival qualify as a sport?
Who is the most famous contact in your phone (other politicians don’t count)?
Gay and Kathleen Byrne but that is now probably out of date since they have moved from Howth to Dublin 4. This would probably be similarly true of Brian Friel and Seamus Heaney (not that they have all left Howth for Dublin 4 just that the contact may be out of date).
Whose office would you like to be a fly on the wall of?
President Obama.
What’s the most politically incorrect thing about you?
Telling the truth which doesn’t go down at all well in politics these days.
Finish the sentence: People are uninspired by politicians because….
Because they are uninspiring (how’s that for a perfect political tautology).
