'Digital' presidential debate held

Links between presidential frontrunner Seán Gallagher and Fianna Fáil were raised again today with Sinn Féin rival Martin McGuinness accusing the independent candidate of being “up to his neck” in the party.

Speaking during a debate organised by Newstalk and Google, Mr McGuinness said that, although it was not a crime, he had no doubt that Mr Gallagher had strong ties with Fianna Fáil - the party he said was responsible for running the State into ruin.

"I do think that there is no doubt whatsoever that Seán has been up to his neck in Fianna Fáil," he said.

"Fianna Fáil is the party that ran the economy into the ground. Fianna Fáil was the party that was involved in the brown envelope culture the Galway tent and involved in betraying the people of Ireland."

Mr Gallagher said he had "never been in denial" about his political background and that the election was not "party political" and "nor should it be".

"Mary McAleese, who was a member of Fianna Fáil in the past, was not a Fianna Fáil president and I think whoever will be elected here will not be a party president," he said during the debate which was broadcast live on Newstalk radio and Youtube. "They will be a president for all the people…We should not seek to make it a rerun or rehash of the last general election."

The debate, moderated by former minister Ivan Yeates, put questions to the candidates that members of the public had posted on the internet. The topics of discussion included the seven candidate's vision for Ireland, promoting job creation, the role of religion in the constitution, same sex marriage and adoption and cuts to budgets for welfare and special needs children.

Asked if he supported the austerity measures introduced by his party in Government, Labour candidate Michael D Higgins said he did not believe it was possible for a country to “cut its way back to growth”.

Mr Higgins stressed that he was not part of the Government before going on to deny he was an “a la carte” Labour member. He said he had support from both his party and independent members of the Oireachtas and this was because he would bring considerable experience to the constitutional role of president.

When questioned about his recent slide to second in opinion polls, Mr Higgins said he was not guilty of running a complacent campaign. He said he could not do anything if people were concerned about his age but insisted he had no shortage of intellectual or physical energy at this stage of his life.

On same sex marriage, Mr Gallagher said he was in favour of marriage equality but was not sure if same sex couples should be allowed to adopt as he had not researched the subject.

“I am unsure about the adoption issue solely because as a former youth worker, I am unsure of the effect that might have on the developmental needs of a young person,” he said.

Independent candidate Mary Davis said she believed in full equality for same sex couples. Ms Davis also said the protection and safety of children should be at the centre of Irish life and that she “absolutely” felt the Catholic Church had a lot to answer for with regard to recent clerical abuse scandals which had been handled appallingly.

On constitutional change, Mr McGuinness said he believed that residents of Northern Ireland should be entitled to vote in the presidential election.

“As someone who absolutely believes that people from Derry, Down, Antrim, Armagh are as Irish as Cork or Kerry or Dublin I think that part of the constitution needs to be changed,” he said.

Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said he did not understand “why a million people who are unionists in Northern Ireland should be involved in picking the head of this State”.

Independent candidate David Norris said he had a track record of protecting the constitution and public having previously stood against legislation such as the bank guarantee and tax amnesty as a member of the Seanad.

Asked if she felt the presidential campaign had been fair, Dana Rosemary Scallon said independent candidates were at a disadvantage against those running on behalf of a party, especially with regard to scrutiny over their fundraising activities.