Even before debate showtime, leaders were on the attack

Boxers at least wait until the bell rings before launching their first attack. But in the scrap to win election 2016 votes, the political punches were being thrown even before the televised leaders’ debate began.

Less than half an hour before showtime, there was still no sign of one of the four key figures of the night.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin — who could soon be carpooling to Government Buildings — had arrived within minutes of each other just after 8.15pm, while Tánaiste Joan Burton had arrived a full hour earlier, such was the enthusiasm of the first-time leaders’ debate participant.

But there was no sign of Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams.

Then an immediately identifiable sound trundled into earshot.

Next to his rivals’ Audis and BMWs, the controversial republican party’s battle bus — a 50-seater vehicle parties normally only use in campaigns to advertise around the country — emblazoned with Sinn Féin slogans pulled into view.

“It can use the bus lanes,” deadpanned the Louth TD, on the same day the capital faced severe traffic due to the Luas drivers’ strike.

The leaders landed their own jabs on arriving.

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Burton said she wanted the “best woman to win” the debate in which she is the only woman; Kenny welcomed reporters to the “new” TV3 studio he’s avoided for two years; and Martin noted he has wanted to debate Kenny “for quite some time”.

But if someone turns up in a 50-seat bus, it’s difficult to ignore who has landed the first punch.

When the debate formally began — after co-presenter Pat Kenny joked in the last runthrough that his first line should be “unscripted, unedited, except for the first four minutes which are all leaders on autocue” — the four would-be taoisigh circled each other, trying to land a punch without suffering a knock-out blow.

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All leaders’ achilles heels were touched. Economic experience saw Adams accused of being “fuzzy”, while he faced repeated criticism over his party’s track record on law, a situation the Sinn Féin leader claimed would give “little comfort” to victims.

Health and the medical cards crisis was thrown at Kenny until he described it as something he “could have done without”.

Bluntly asked if she may lose her seat, Burton just looked bemused.

And while Mr Martin seemed to have a near landslide of facts to get off his chest, he was reminded of his own link to the boom and bust.

Ultimately, all last night involved was four people circling each other trying not to make a mistake in a knock-off version of most days in the Dáil.

Then it was back on the bus.

Limerick is the next stop for a live RTÉ debate on Monday.

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