Mitchell and McGuinness trade blows

Fine Gael's presidential candidate Gay Mitchell has accused Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness of "lying" to the people.

His attack comes after his party colleague, the Environment Minister Phil Hogan, told the Sunday Independent that US multinationals would be "appalled" if Ireland elected a "terrorist" like McGuinness to become the next president of Ireland.

Minister Hogan claims such a move would ruin Ireland's reputation abroad and may even jeopardise the country getting more corporate investment from America.

Mitchell was reluctant to endorse these statements, but instead launched his own separate attack on McGuinness this morning as both candidates took part in a heated debate on Newstalk’s Eamon Dunphy show.

“This man (McGuinness) says that he is not a member of the IRA and hasn’t been since 1974 – that’s not true, Martin,” Mitchell told his rival.

“You say you are not running for Sinn Féin. That’s not true, Martin.

“You say you live on the average industrial wage – you earned about €200,000 last year. Publish your P60 – it’s not true, Martin.

“Who is the true Martin McGuinness?”

However McGuinness rubbished the attacks as nothing more than "dirty tricks" from Fine Gael.

He said he earns an annual salary of £112,000 for his position as the North's Deputy First Minister.

Mr McGuinness said that this money goes straight into a Sinn Féin bank account, out of which he receives a subsistence.

He said Minister Hogan is obviously totally out of touch with his work, as McGuinness’ recent trade mission to America with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson resulted in hundreds of new jobs being created in the North.

“Peter Robinson and I were received at the highest level by executives of Warner Bros, HBO, Allstate, Sony.

“This (Hogan’s claims) is absolute nonsense.

“Peter Robinson and I have brought thousands of jobs to the North through contact with senior executives in multinational companies in the United States of America.”

Meanwhile a comment from Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Kehoe on Twitter was the subject of some controversy.

The tweet from the Wexford TD, published on the microblogging site as the radio debate was progressing read: "Why would you need your salary when you have the proceeds of the northern bank at your disposal."

Over £26m was stolen from the bank in Belfast in 2004 - with both the Irish and British governments pointing the blame at the Provisional IRA.

Mr Mitchell declined to comment on the tweet from Deputy Kehoe when it was subsequently raised during the on-air debate.

Mr McGuinness said it was just another example of underhand tactics by Fine Gael.

"It's quite obvious that the certain powers that be feel absolutely threatened by my involvement in this election," he said.

"They are very concerned that I could possibly win the election."