VINCENT BROWNE’S OFFER to stand aside from moderating a TV3 debate on the Fiscal Compact referendum between Enda Kenny and Sinn Féin Gerry Adams is being considered by the Taoiseach.
The offer came after Kenny said yesterday that he does “not do the Vincent Browne programme”, a stance believed to be related to the veteran journalist’s comments last year that he should go into a dark room with a revolver and a bottle of whiskey. Browne later apologised.
Yesterday, TV3 said that its political editor Ursula Halligan would moderate the debate on 29 May, a proposal which a spokesman for the Taoiseach said was being “taken under consideration” this morning.
Browne said that he was “disappointed” that Kenny had decided not to participate in the debate by that he did “not wish to inhibit this important public debate from proceeding”.
Adams indicated earlier this week that he would participate in the proposed one-on-one debate to be held two days before polling on 31 May.
He had previously declined to appear on a debate held last week in which Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald appeared instead, a debate which the Taoiseach also declined to appear in.
Last night, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin criticised Adams for declining a separate invitation to a debate between the Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin leaders.
“It is quite clear that Gerry Adams is not serious about debating the real issues in this Treaty directly with the Yes side,” Martin said.
“After refusing my invitation for a head to head debate last weekend, Deputy Adams issued an invitation to the Taoiseach that he knew was unlikely to be accepted.”
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