Senator David Norris has caused outrage with comments on Newstalk this morning claiming that people on social welfare should not be allowed to purchase alcohol.
His comments came in support of new minimum unit pricing (MUP). A can of beer will cost a minimum of €1.95 under the new legislation while a bottle of wine will cost around €8.60 and a bottle of supermarket own-brand vodka could more than double in price from €13 to €28.
The senator was on the Newstalk Breakfast show this morning to lend his support to MUP. He said:
I hear people on the wireless saying ‘Oh what about the poor people on the social welfare and they’ll be deprived of their few drinks’ – I don’t spend my tax dollars to buy drinks for people on social welfare” he said.
“I don’t think tax is for people to be drinking all the time – and I see them all around my area buying slabs of drinks” he added.
Twitter users responded to his comments.
Don’t want to give David Norris too hard a time (not that he cares) but practically every penny he ever spent came from the taxpayers ?
— Izzy Kamikaze (@IzzyKamikaze) December 11, 2015
Now that the marriage referendum is over, we can finally appreciate the classism of David Norris. — Kevin Beirne (@KevBeirne) December 11, 2015
Well now, David Norris has let the cat out of the bag. Booze should be the preserve of the rich. That’s exactly what’s behind all of this.
— martinmcmahon (@williamhboney1) December 11, 2015
We need more right wing views in Ireland to counter our horrendous liberalism at times. #DavidNorris — Marcus (@auric_k) December 11, 2015
My opinion on Senator David Norris frequently fluctuates from extreme admiration to absolute disdain.
— Gareth Gregan (@garethgregan) December 11, 2015
Ah David Norris, NOT COOL DUDE. — Claire Hennessy (@clairehennessy) December 11, 2015
I have to admit that I never suspected that David Norris might be an unfathomable prick but hey, life is a rollercoaster.
— Lisa McInerney (@SwearyLady) December 11, 2015
David Norris has strange notions around equality — gfm101 (@gfm101) December 11, 2015
