Martin and Adams clash as second leaders debate finishes

The five-way leaders debate is complete.

The banks, emigration, political reform and jobs were centre stage in the second television debate of Election 2011.

The liveliest exchange was between Micheál Martin and Gerry Adams over the issue of fraud with Martin declaring that Adams has no right to speak about fraud in the Republic.

“How dare you talk about fraud among politics and people down here in the Republic with what went in the last number of years in the North”, said the Fianna Fáil leader.

Much of the debate was about the banks and the Government's track record.

Martin did not address his past role in Cabinet but was quick to slam Sinn Féin's proposals.

Claiming that Adams was “a bit of a magician” if he and his party can follow through on its proposals without any cuts.

But Gerry Adams says Fianna Fáil plans aren't real stating: “Paul Daniels couldn’t do it the way Micheál Martin is suggesting”.

Labour adopted a high moral ground saying that they'd refused to back the bank guarantee and wanted to nationalise banks but Enda Kenny dismissed that defence saying “Eamon would have us nationalize all the banks. You’d have about five Anglo’s”.

Each leader defended their plans with job creation topping their respective lists.

All promised plans to help struggling homeowners with Green party leader John Gormley saying in Government that was not the first priority.