Kenny accused of cowardice in debate row

ENDA KENNY’S election campaign got off to a rocky start yesterday as he was accused of running scared from an in-depth leaders’ TV debate.

The Fine Gael chief, who opinion polls place as most likely to be Taoiseach, dismissed new Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s offer of a three-way forum involving himself and Labour’s Eamon Gilmore.

Mr Kenny — branded a “chicken” by his would-be post-election coalition partners, Labour — insisted it would be better to open the debate to include the Sinn Féin and Green leaders.

Opponents seized on the move claiming Mr Kenny wanted to hide under the cover of a more crowded TV showdown and avoid substantive scrutiny ahead of the expected February 25 poll.

Mr Martin insisted he would invite the Labour leader to debate with him in a two-way exchange if Mr Kenny refused to take part in the three-way option.

The Fine Gael leader hit back saying it was not Mr Martin’s place to “dictate” the terms of the general election campaign, and that he was attempting to exclude parties like Sinn Féin — even though it is ahead of FF in some polls.

In an attempt to regain the political initiative from Mr Martin on his first full day as FF leader, Fine Gael wrote to broadcasters saying it wanted five-way debates in “neutral settings” which would be open to all media.

“There is no Taoiseach contesting this election. If we are going to debate the issues, all the leaders are going to be involved,” Mr Kenny said.

Labour spokesperson Ciarán Lynch said he was disappointed by the Fine Gael leader’s reluctance to take part in a three-way forum, saying: “We hear a lot about Fine Gael being a team and so it is time for them to put their captain on the pitch.”

Forcing the issue, TG4 has invited the three leaders to a debate in Galway at 10am on February 16.

Mr Martin threw down a challenge to the Fine Gael leader in a letter, stating: “Whether or not you attend, I intend being there at that time.”

Mr Kenny returned fire, saying the new FF leader wanted to spend the campaign in TV studios rather than face the wrath of voters on the doorstep.

Green leader Mr Gormley waded into the row saying all debates should include his party, Sinn Féin and the United Left Alliance, and possibly some independents.

The unseemly squabble overshadowed the Dáil passing of the Finance Bill which now goes to the Seanad as the Oireachtas is expected to be dissolved in the next few days to clear the way for a likely February 25 general election.