DEBATE REACTION:FALLOUT FROM the first major TV debate of the election continued yesterday while final preparations were being put in place for a five-way leaders' debate and two three-way debates.
Fianna Fáil and Labour Party representatives praised the performances of their respective leaders, Micheál Martin and Eamon Gilmore, on TV3’s Tuesday night debate, which Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny declined to attend.
Labour TD Róisín Shortall paid tribute to Mr Gilmore, who she said gave a “calm and credible” performance, focusing her criticism on Mr Martin.
“The most remarkable thing about the debate was Micheál Martin’s attempt to reinvent himself. He was trying to airbrush out the last 14 years but the fact is that Micheál Martin was centrally involved.”
As a member of Cabinet Mr Martin had contributed to “some of the key decisions that were taken in recent years, which have done such damage to this country”.
Fianna Fáil Deputy Thomas Byrne accused Ms Shortall of “attempting to spin some benefit” from the debate, and took issue with her claim that Mr Martin was attempting to reinvent himself.
“Quite apart from the fact that this type of mud-slinging and politics as usual has nothing to offer for the future, the hypocrisy is breathtaking. When it comes to reinvention, her own party leader leaves almost every other Irish politician in the penny place.
“Deputy Shortall should think twice before bringing her party leader’s colourful past into focus in this election.”
Mr Gilmore was first elected to the Dáil in 1989 as a Workers’ Party deputy and became a Democratic Left spokesman. Asked by Marian Finucane last October if the name of the party he first joined in the 1970s was “Sinn Féin the Workers’ Party then or was it Official Sinn Féin then”, Mr Gilmore said: “It was in the process I think of becoming the Workers’ Party at that time. I can’t recall exactly the dates exactly.”
Mr Byrne said Fianna Fáil wanted the campaign to focus “on the issues of real concern for Ireland’s future”. The party believed the “reinvention of our country’s politics is absolutely essential”.
A five-way leaders' debate, which will include the Green Party's John Gormley and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, is scheduled for broadcast next Monday as part of the Frontlineprogramme presented by Pat Kenny on RTÉ One.
A three-way debate in Irish featuring Mr Kenny, Mr Gilmore and Mr Martin is due to be screened on TG4 next Wednesday, while a debate between the three leaders is scheduled for broadcast during RTÉ's Prime Timeon February 22nd.
Commenting on the TG4 debate, which does not include Sinn Féin or the Greens, outgoing Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said yesterday: “I think that’s a form of censorship.
“Both of the other leaders have Irish. They should be encouraged, and it’s a pity that TG4 have taken that stance because to date TG4 have had quite a good stance and have been quite good in terms of breaking stories and being quite radical in their approach.”
Asked if Sinn Féin leader Mr Adams and Mr Gormley had sufficient command of Irish to take part in the 50-minute TG4 debate, he said: “I think they have.”