Martin puts in another strong debate performance - Statement from Mary Hanafin TD

In the debate, Micheal Martin clearly made the most decisive interventions. He was the one leader who consistently showed through the debate a mastery of detail, passion, empathy and an ability to think on his feet.

In all of the key moments in the debate, Micheál Martin was in control and made intelligent, sensible and credible points.

Micheal Martin exposed Sinn Fein’s economic illiteracy when he said that Gerry Adams would need to be “a magician” to implement his fiscal policies. Micheal Martin highlighted the illusory nature of Sinn Fein’s claim that they would not have to implement cuts in expenditure, nor cuts in taxes while sending the IMF packing and, at the same time, still manage to maintain public services.

Micheál Martin also exposed the fraud at the heart of Fine Gael’s tax policies. He proved that Fine Gael is posing as a low tax party. He described Enda Kenny’s tax policy is “a front-door, back door policy.”

Micheál said “The whole tax policy of FG is.... on the front door they’re shouting out there’s no more income taxes, but through the back door there’s a whole range of taxes ....if you read the small print of the FG policy...” In this way, he made it clear that Fine Gael have a number of hidden taxes in their economic strategy.

The debate also made clear that an alternative coalition government would not be cohesive and would not provide the stability that our country needs. The debate was marked by a number of squabbles between Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore. Micheál Martin encapsulated what everyone at home must have been thinking when he asked “And they want to go into government together?”

Enda Kenny this evening showed why he did not want to appear in two-way or three-way debates. He relied on scripted comments and repeated over and over again his empty campaign slogans. Ireland deserves a leader who can think on his feet not just recite scripted lines.

Micheál Martin again took the opportunity presented by this debate to set out a clear and credible plan which will restore our economy, create jobs and renew politics. He was the one leader in this debate who laid out a real plan for a better future for this country.