Independent presidential hopeful Seán Gallagher today rejected an invitation from Labour’s Michael D Higgins to take part in a one-on-one debate, saying it would be unfair to the other candidates.
The former Fianna Fáil member said it would not be a good example of inclusion.
“Why would we exclude five other candidates?” he asked while campaigning in Dublin. “We’ve been through 12 or 13 presidential debates so far and a few more to go. I feel that would be unfair on the other five candidates.”
Mr Gallagher’s comments came after Mr Higgins said he is willing to consider a one-on-one debate with him.
The campaign has entered its final 10 days with Mr Gallagher holding a commanding lead over Mr Higgins in the latest opinion polls, with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness trailing the two frontrunners.
Mr Higgins said last night he would have no difficulty with a debate with Mr Gallagher if one were organised. However, he did not wish to appear presumptuous, given the volatility of the polls, or unfair to the other candidates.
"If it came down to it, it would be useful if there was a straightforward debate between the two of us," he told The Irish Times.
Mr Higgins predicted any debate with his business-oriented rival would run along left-right lines politically: “There’s no doubt where he’s coming from and it is a view of the right. It’s a debate between the social economy and the speculative economy.”
Mr Higgins said today there have been no discussions on a voting pact between the coalition parties to secure transfers from Mr Mitchell but he said he would welcome Fine Gael support. “It’s very important to be a candidate that people can transfer to with comfort and enthusiasm,” Mr Higgins said. “But it’s not a deal. I think people are very, very wise. They know how to vote,” he added.
Mr Gallagher this afternoon defended his association with Fianna Fáil, saying there was nothing wrong with being a member of a democratic party. “I wouldn’t like to think that anybody would be demonised for being a grass roots member of any political party, whether that be Sinn Fein, Fine Gael or Labour.”
He also responded to speculation that he is not as successful an entrepreneur as has previously been claimed, after it emerged that he earned €212 a week after tax last year. “Welcome to the real world. This is where everybody is at the moment. Every shopkeeper I meet, every small business is struggling to survive,” he said. “Survival is the new success. I understand that claim. I’ve been through it.”
Speaking in Dublin this morning, Mr McGuinness said he is opposed to a head-to-head debate between the two frontrunners. He said the presidential election is a choice between someone not part of the establishment, and a clear break from bad politics and bank bailouts, or the status quo.
"Both of those are from the establishment. I'm the only real non-establishment candidate. Michael D Higgins represents a party that's imposing austerity on the people of Ireland and Seán Gallagher represents a party that was involved in bank bailouts," Mr McGuinness said. "As someone who is the only real non-establishment candidate in the election I think it's time to have a debate about the real issues."
He described Mr Higgins, Mr Gallagher and Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell as more of the same in political terms.
“In this election people have real choices to make. My candidacy is about sending a very clear message that the Irish people want a break from the bad politics that led to the economic and financial mess that we now find ourselves in,” Mr McGuinness said.
Separately, Mary Davis tonight said that she accepted collective responsibility for decisions taken in relation to mortgages while she was a member of the board of the ICS building society.
Asked about the matter during an interview on RTÉ's Six One programme, Ms Davis said ICS would not have approved 100 per cent mortgages if she knew what she did now.
Ms Davis expressed frustration over allegations relating to her time spent on boards and insisted she had acted with integrity at all times.
All seven candidates are due to debate on TG4 tomorrow and on RTÉ's Frontline next Monday.
The latest poll figure confirms the findings of the last Irish Times survey which showed the Gallagher surge. The Sunday Business Post poll shows support for the Dragons' Den panellist rising 18 points to 39 per cent, 12 points ahead of Mr Higgins, who rose two points to 27 per cent. Polling took place before last Wednesday's RTÉ Prime Time debate.
A Sunday Independent poll carried out later in the week shows Mr Higgins continuing to lead the field with 36 per cent support.