Pearse Doherty says Paschal Donohoe ‘chickened out’ of debate

Minister Paschal Donohoe has been accused of “chickening out” of debates by Sinn Fein’s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Doherty said the cost-of-living crisis will be a key factor in voters’ decisions on Friday.

He said he had heard that Mr Donohoe wanted to debate him on the economy, but added: “I’ve been there in the Virgin (Media) studio when he wasn’t, and tonight he was supposed to turn up, and now we hear that he has chickened out.

“I would call on Paschal Donohoe to meet me and debate how he has failed the Irish people over and over again on the issues of the cost of living.

“Turn up to tonight’s debate. It is not acceptable that you have now chickened out twice on this issue.”

Mr Doherty also accused Fine Gael of having a “brass neck”.

He pointed to a representative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris contacting national broadcaster RTE over a video clip of him walking away from an interaction with a carer.

Mr Doherty said: “I think it would be really important now, given the enormity of this, I think it was watched eight million times, that Fine Gael actually clarifies what were they leaning on RTE to try and achieve?

“Were they trying to make sure that the package wasn’t aired?

“I think that the conversation should now be made public by Fine Gael.”

He added: “When it comes to Fine Gael, they’ve got a brass neck.”

A spokeswoman for the Fine Gael minister said he had taken part in a number of debates “taking Sinn Fein head on in terms of the damage that party would inflict on our economy if in power”.

The spokeswoman said: “Minister Donohoe looks forward to doing so again (on Wednesday) morning and at any other opportunity across the coming days.”

Mr Donohoe and Mr Doherty are due to take part in a debate on RTE’s Claire Byrne radio programme on Wednesday morning.