SF: FF arguing against Seanad abolition in order to 'get air time'

The Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has challenged the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to a debate on the Seanad referendum.

Mr Adams has accused Mr Martin of using the referendum campaign to try and make Fianna Fáil relevant with people again.

He also said there is only one reason Mr Martin is campaigning for a 'No' vote.

He said: "It is a matter of putting themselves into a camp which would be given a certain amount of air time to argue the case.

"The fact that they are the only party arguing for a no, does entitle them to publicity that they would not otherwise get."

"In the last election the Fianna Fáil manifesto committed to abolition. They have torn up this commitment in a very cynical publicity driven u-turn.

"I think it is important in terms of public engagement with the Seanad referendum that Micheál Martin publicly debate these important issues with me and I challenge him to do so."

Fine Gael has said it is adamant the only debate the Taoiseach Enda Kenny will take part in on the Seanad referendum is in the Dáil chamber.

The party's deputy director of elections, Regina Doherty, said: "This isn't about individuals and this isn't about Micheál Martin trying to find himself a platform to make himself relevant to Irish politics again.

"This is about the Irish people deciding what kind of governance structure we want. It isn't about personalities and we've never had a debate in any other referendum among party leaders before, so why should we have one in this referendum.

"This isn't about Enda Kenny, it isn't about Micheál Martin, it is about getting the Irish people the facts."