Labour leader Eamon Gilmore today renewed pressure on Fine Gael's Enda Kenny to take part in three-way televised debates during the general election campaign.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has challenged Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore to take part in debates among the leaders of the three largest parties.
However, Mr Kenny yesterday rejected the idea of three-way debates and instead suggested a debate between all five leaders of the parties represented in the Dáil. "Micheál Martin is not in a position to dictate anything about the TV debates given his position and his party’s position," he said.
Fianna Fáil and Labour both said their leaders would be willing to debate with each other in a series of live debates on television and radio in the absence of Mr Kenny.
During a visit to Cork today, Mr Gilmore said that while he had no difficulty with taking part in a five-leader debate involving the Green Party’s John Gormley and Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams,
it was also vital that a three-way debate was held.
"I've no problem with a five-way debate, but I think for people to make up their minds about who should be in government, there should be a three-way debate between the leader of the party in government and the leaders of the two parties seeking to lead an alternative government,” he said.
"I don't know of any election anywhere where there wasn't a debate between the parties offering to lead the government. In Britain last year, the three main parties in the UK took part in a debate and I didn't hear anybody saying that the British National Party and the UKIP and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all should participate in that debate.”
The Labour leader said the issue would not lead to tensions between his party and Fine Gael.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh of Sinn Féin said yesterday the debates should involve all political parties in the Dáil. Green leader John Gormley said a five-way debate would end the “pig in a poke” approach to Irish politics. He said the views of smaller parties – who have held government ministries and influenced people’s lives – were also important.
Today Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty called for a five-way debate among party finance spokespersons to discuss economic policy.
He said: “We all know that this election is going to be all about our economy and which party can best steer us out of our current crisis and back to stability and prosperity.
“It is vitally important that the electorate is given the opportunity to hear each party’s proposals in an open debate,” he said.
