Fine Gael presidential candidate Gay Mitchell has portrayed some of the other contenders as “celebrities” rather than politicians.
In a thinly-veiled reference to the two independent candidates, Séan Gallagher and Mary Davis, Mr Mitchell said that voters would make a major error if they elected a celebrity.
“If we choose celebrity over substance we are making a very serious mistake.
“I think there are people who are very good candidates but don’t have the experience or the vision that I have,” he said.
Mr Mitchell, in what was received as a reference to Michael D Higgins said that he did not want Irish children to become part of “Skype generation while we sip champagne in the [Phoenix] Park reciting poetry”.
Mr Mitchell ramped up his criticism of other candidates during an interview on RTE's This Week programme this afternoon.
Asked was he referring to Ms Davis and Mr Gallagher, Mr Mitchell said he was not going to name any names.
“I am one of the people who can find effective solutions to problems… In every job I have done, I have brought a sense of experience and innovation. I will be the person to put jobs and the future of the country on the agenda.”
He also said he agreed with his Fine Gael colleague Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice, who said earlier today that Mr Mitchell would be “congruent” with the Government.
Mr Mitchell said that he would be favour of ratcheting-up the scrutiny of other candidates. “I think you should start asking some of them very difficult questions. When I started asking Martin McGuinness difficult questions, people say I am attacking him.”
He said that unlike other candidates, he had a record of getting things done and implementing ideas and would continue to do so in the Aras.
Asked about his own low-standing in opinion polls, he harshly criticised Minister of State Willie Penrose (who opposes the closure of Mullingar Army barracks) during the course of his reply: “Polls are very volatile. When you hear ministers standing up and opposing the closure of army barracks in their constituencies, I have to say that this is a time to step up to the place and take some responsibility and not to be playing local politics.
“We are on the cusp of massive recovery if we do the right thing and stop playing petty party politics,” he said.
Mr Mitchell insisted that the whole Fine Gael organisation remained united behind his candidacy and expressed optimism about his prospects.
“I’m telling you this now. The likelihood is that I’ll win this election. I will let you know in three weeks time,” he said.