European campaign: Independent European Parliament candidate Ms Kathy Sinnott has been challenged to declare her attitudes towards contraception, divorce and other social issues by the Labour Party.
Senator Brendan Ryan, who is contesting the South constituency alongside Ms Sinnott, said the disability rights campaigner has "right-wing views" and is supported by the Pro-Life Movement. "Her views are her own business, but we want to make sure that liberal, left-wing people do not vote for her thinking that she is liberal and left-wing when, in fact, she turns out to have entirely different views," he told The Irish Times last night.
"Is the Pro-Life Movement backing Ms Sinnott's campaign? How did she stand on the key social issues of divorce and contraception in the last number of years?" the Labour senator asked.
"Secondly she said on RTÉ's Prime Time that we were being 'chemicalized'.
"The chemical pharmaceutical industry is probably Cork's most successful industry.
"I am putting it to Ms Sinnott that this sort of remark can undermine an industry which in the greater Cork region alone provides many thousands of jobs.
"Do we want an MEP who is apparently hostile to one of our most successful industries?
"There are thousands of people in and around Cork who have highly-paid, secure jobs because of the chemical industry.
"Is she saying that she wants to close it down? We deserve answers.
"Thirdly, Ms Sinnott also says that Europe is 'controlling us' and has declared herself a Eurosceptic.
"Is she therefore an anti-European candidate? I do not believe that there is a big conspiracy behind every pole in Brussels. I do not see it as an attempt to steal our basic democracy even in my most critical moments about the EU," he said.
He claimed that an attempt by Cork County Sound radio to hold a debate between the two of them on Monday foundered when Ms Sinnott refused to attend.
Last night, Ms Sinnott's election agent, Mr P.J. Feeney said she would respond today to Mr Ryan's charges.
The Irish Times/tns mrbi opinion poll last week put Ms Sinnott at 9 per cent, which would give her a chance of taking the third seat depending on the destination of transfers from eliminated candidates.
