Kenny ‘engages in debates every week’ but still refuses TV head-to-head

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he is engaging with people at every opportunity about the future of the Seanad, but again dismissed calls for a TV debate ahead of the referendum vote next week.

Mr Kenny also indicated the Government was willing to consider granting extra powers to the Central Bank to help officials resolve the mortgage arrears crisis.

He outlined public meetings and work with his party on Fine Gael’s campaign to abolish the Seanad. With just seven days to polling day and despite an invitation still standing from RTÉ for a head-to-head debate with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Mr Kenny signalled that he had no plans to take part in such an event.

He said he attended two public meetings over the last two nights and would be canvassing in Blanchardstown and Liffey Valley, Dublin, today and that he was engaging with people at “every opportunity”.

Asked if he would accept RTÉ’s invitation, he said: “I engage in debates every week. This is a referendum. It is not a general election. This rests in the hands of the people. God knows people, for long enough, have given out about politicians, about what they do or don’t do. This is an opportunity for people to assist government action to streamline the way politics is conducted and to open up our legal system, in terms of laws being drafted and prepared, to the people and the civic sectors of society which have been ignored for too long.”

Mr Kenny said he stood by his point that all parties had campaigned against keeping the Seanad before the last election and that some — a pointed reference to Fianna Fáil — had “changed their tune for their own reasons”.

Mr Kenny also refused to comment on the Central Bank’s decision this week not to refer the Anglo tapes to gardaí or investigating authorities. However, he said the Government was prepared to assist Central Bank officials or its governor, Patrick Honohan, who are trying to put pressure on lenders to resolve mortgage arrears with customers.

“If the governor approaches Government for any extra power that he made need or may require, the Government will certainly consider that.”