Micheal Martin: Coalition trying to buy votes

Micheál Martin has warned Taoiseach Enda Kenny not to repeat the mistakes of Fianna Fáil’s pre-election budget giveaways.

The FF leader used a parliamentary party pre-Dáil think-in in Dublin to accuse the Coalition of attempting to buy voters in the looming general election.

Mr Martin said he was the only alternative Taoiseach to Mr Kenny, as he challenged the Fine Gael leader to a “no-holds barred” election debate. The Fianna Fáil leader said his party had learnt lessons the hard way from over-promising voters at election time as he urged Mr Kenny not to do the same.