Leaders of Ireland’s main parties clash in final debate

The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in their final televised debate before the general election.

The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, featured Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, and Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

The parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day on November 29, which is likely to set the scene of Irish politics for the next five years.

The latest opinion poll put the parties in a tight grouping with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Sinn Fein, and Fine Gael in a close third after a significant slide in a campaign marked with several hiccups for that party.

Ms McDonald took aim at current coalition partners Mr Martin and Mr Harris for their respective parties’ roles in handling the financial crash and its aftermath.

In the more than 90-minute debate on Irish national broadcaster RTE, Ms McDonald said the financial crash was instigated and driven by Fianna Fail, while austerity was brought by Fine Gael.

Echoing words spoken earlier in the debate by Mr Harris, she said: “There are people watching this programme who still bear the scars of your crash and of your austerity.”

He had said that lessons had to be learned from the financial crash, adding that Fine Gael had “never crashed the economy” and was now proposing the least amount of spending when compared to the other two parties.

Mr Martin said he “learned from” his time in Government during the financial crash.

Ms McDonald retorted: “I know you did, sure you authored it.”

Mr Martin said he kept with public service and would always put the country before his party.

He also said Sinn Fein’s “enormous” tax increases would destroy Ireland’s enterprise economy.