EVERY NIGHT DURING the general election, TheJournal.ie brings you the latest from the Election 2016 campaign trail.
Everybody’s talking about
It’s hard to believe that Enda Kenny has managed to avoid doing any TV debate with the other party leaders in his five years as Taoiseach. He’ll argue that he debates them every week in the Dáil but that’s a world away from the sort of encounter he can expect in the TV3 studios tonight where he’ll face Micheál Martin, Gerry Adams and Joan Burton.
To some extent, Kenny’s studious avoidance of them has meant that expectations for tonight are fairly low. “As long as he doesn’t eat his own tie it’ll be a success,” one Fianna Fáiler joked earlier today. Kenny’s reluctance to debate most likely stems from his performance in the 2007 TV debates where he was soundly beaten by Bertie Ahern.
His main threat tonight will be Ahern’s old colleague Micheál Martin, a politician who may be hampered by his association with the previous government, but who has exuded a new-found confidence since his strong Ard Fheis speech last month. Martin genuinely believes he can lead a Fianna Fáil government after this election.
It will be fascinating to watch how Joan Burton manages to align herself with Kenny and at the same time give people a reason to vote Labour ahead of Fine Gael. Meanwhile Gerry Adams will try to land as many soundbite blows as possible and will be hoping he doesn’t trip up on any tough economic questions.
It’s sure to be a fascinating watch. We’ll be liveblogging and tweeting the debate from 8.30pm with all the analysis and reaction afterwards.
Slap Down of the Day
Micheál Martin’s announcement that Fianna Fáil will consider former cabinet ministers for future government ministries has been met with this hilarious and scathing response from Labour.
FactCheck of the Day
As part of our general election coverage, we’re testing the truth of claims made by candidates and parties on the campaign trail. Later tonight we’ll be examining some of the claims made in the TV3 debate.
Row of the Day
Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter is not letting this one go. He wants his Dublin Rathdown constituency rival Shane Ross to explain why, since 2011, he has consistently voted against the use of the Special Criminal Court where the DPP fears jury intimidation.
Ross has already explained that he has opposed the legislation because the government “stifled” debate on the issue. But now Shatter wants a public debate with the independent TD. If you’re both reading we’d be happy to facilitate one at our famous High Table…
WTF Moment of the Day
We don’t know what to make of Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon’s campaign video. It’s certainly different, as is the response to it from Sinn Féin rival Réada Cronin.
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Tomorrow’s news today: What’s happening on the campaign trail
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