Leaders set to do battle as Gaeilge

THE leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party are heading west today for their first three-way debate of the campaign and the first ever to take place as Gaeilge.

As well as the main election issues such as jobs, health and the EU/IMF bailout, the Irish language station said the debate will be expanded to take into account its location and context.

It said: “Diverging party views on issues like the Irish language, education, regional development, agriculture and fisheries are bound to add further spice to the exchanges.”

Micheál Martin, Eamon Gilmore and Enda Kenny are all fluent Irish speakers. TG4’s ardstiúrthóir Pól Ó Gallchóir commended them for their leadership in promoting the language. Nuacht TG4’s chief newscaster Eimear Ní Chonaola will moderate the debate that will be recorded and broadcast at 7pm and later at 10.30pm, both with English subtitles.

All three main leaders claimed they were happy with Monday night’s five-way debate on RTÉ which produced no clear winner.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who would not take part in last week’s debate with the other two leader on TV3 said he was looking forward to “locking arms” with them in Irish. But questioned the usefulness of debates: “In a way they are like church gates. We used to go to church gate meetings years ago and if you didn’t do them you’d think you had missed something critical. But in all the church gates that I ever did I’m not sure I converted a single soul.”

Asked how Enda Kenny performed in the five-way debate on Monday night, Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, said: “That is for others to judge. But I note the line one hears is that no mistakes were made was the baseline. So it depends on one’s expectations.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said: “I don’t think anybody knows who won the debate. Whoever won was whatever leader gave the most convincing answer to those questions about real issues that were raised by the audience.”