Senator David Norris said he would shave his beard if the public rejected the proposal to abolish the Seanad. Today, he held good on his promise.

In the Today FM studio, Mr Norris had his beard shaved off as part of the station’s Shave or Dye fundraising campaign for cancer support.

The Trinity College Senator was diagnosed with liver cancer four months ago. Discussing the disease, he said: “People should realise it’s not some sort of alien monster that’s flown in on a flying saucer... it’s your own cells. They’re not behaving but they’re yours.”

Mr Norris, who is 69 and has sported a beard for 40 years, feared that, like the Biblical figure of Samson, “all my strength may ebb away as I have my beard shaved”.

Indeed, he wasn’t overjoyed with the result: “Oh mother of god, isn’t that dreadful,” he gasped after looking at his reflection. “I look like a bloody bank manager.”

But after a second look he reconsidered. “I think I look like Michael Noonan,” he said.

Members of the public have been invited to donate to the Shave or Dye campaign, benefiting the Irish Cancer Society and Professor John Crown’s Cancer Research Trust.

To donate€2 text SHAVE to 50300.