The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, was invited yesterday to a debate on European issues by Green Party MEP Ms Patricia McKenna.
She handed the invitation to the Fianna Fail European Election candidate at the opening of a sports stadium in Irishtown, Dublin.
Describing Mr Brady as the Scarlet Pimpernel of politics, she said: "His political views are like the third secret of Fatima", adding it was "difficult to have a debate with a poster". Mr Brady replied: "This smacks of desperation."