Saturday, 5 February 2011
If Enda Kenny is really serious about wanting to engage in debate with Eamon Gilmore and Micheal Martin then he should accept the offer made by Vincent Browne to stand down as moderator of the TV3 Leaders debate on Tuesday night next.
Mr. Kenny's claim that he won't take part in the debate because of comments made by Vincent Browne last year is simply not convincing. There is hardly a politician in the country that has not been the target of some unflattering comments from Vincent Browne at some stage in their career. Most people just get on with it. Is Enda Kenny saying that if Vincent Browne turns up at Fine Gael press conference he will refuse to take a question from him? Is he saying that if he were to be elected Taoiseach, he would not talk to Vincent Browne?
Given the offer to stand down there is now really no excuse for Enda Kenny to dodge this debate. The people expect to hear all those who aspire to hold the office of Taoiseach debate the issues with other candidates for that office.
Since the offers of leaders debates were first made by the broadcasters, Fine Gael has ducked and dodged and changed their position on virtually a daily basis. The one constant factor has been a determination to limit the exposure of Enda Kenny to public and journalistic scrutiny.
If Enda Kenny continues to refuse to take to the pitch, despite the offer of a new referee, then people will draw their own conclusions about the reasons for his decision.
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