Out of the three publicly broadcasted discussions, this one unquestionably stole the show. Indeed, the Midlands North West debate was marked by pandemonium due to some of the personalities involved. As for the Ireland South debate? Mediocre, at best, with no remarkable highlights. This debate, however, astounded all.
Candidates in Dublin were given an astounding level of preparation, armed to the teeth with facts, figures, and memorable phrases. The pace was relentless, and none pulled their punches. Moderators Miriam O’Callaghan and Sarah McInerney didn’t shy from posing sharp queries, but even they were overtaken by the stirring interventions from the candidates. If it were a sporting match, one could say there was a good deal of clashing involved. Nevertheless, it never devolved into a disjointed fracas. Of the passionate participants, Barry Andrews from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan were indisputably the most assertive.
A memorable line from the entire campaign was the well-delivered and pointed remark by Andrews directed at Clare Daly stating: “You ought to focus more on Crumlin and less on the Kremlin.” This phrase was cleverly crafted and had long been prepared, but it made its mark more due to the way Andrews delivered it towards Daly.
Daly, rather predictably, found herself on a tricky ground regarding Ukraine and the persisting image that she, along with Mick Wallace, were only two out of thirteen MEPs who didn’t condemn Russia’s invasion. When queried why she opposed punitive measures against Russia, Daly argued that sanctions “solely afflict the people of Europe.” Andrews then seized the moment to criticise her underselling the threat Putin posed to the EU and defended her votes against resolutions that opposed military build-up, accusing her of prioritising Russia’s interests in countries such as Iran, Syria, and Belarus over the concerns of Dublin’s citizens. Daly fought back, trying to guard her reputation but the damage was done. Of all the comments made during the debate, Andrews’ critique is likely to be the one remembered.
Regarding the debate segment about defence, which chiefly focused on the “triple lock”, there was a noticeable lack of discussion about “Migration”; the issue that remained unaddressed.
It should be noted that a significant portion of the contenders, surprisingly, hold perspectives that slightly deviate from their affiliated parties. This was evident in the amazingly detailed discourse on immigration, which emerged as the most discussed topic of the night.
Indeed, the candidates exhibited a variety of opinions. However, none of the eight candidates took a firm anti-immigration position – which is perhaps the primary issue in this election cycle.
In essence, we only heard from a subset of the disputants who, while present on the more compassionate end of the spectrum, represented one side of the argument.
Regina Doherty from Fine Gael, Ciaran Cuffe from the Greens, and Barry Andrews from Fianna Fáil, are all members of factions supporting the Asylum and Migration Pact. But, interestingly, both Cuffe and Andrews conceded they had issues with certain elements of the pact. They maintained that the pact isn’t perfect but is universally accepted across the EU, and a superior pact is improbable to originate from a more conservative succeeding parliament.
Of all the participants, Doherty remained the most composed during the debate and proficiently navigated the challenging inquiries about detaining asylum seekers. This accusation was similarly voiced by other participants.
Doherty retorted that detention centres would absolutely not pose a threat in Ireland and the state guaranteed sustainable accommodation, adding that no one would lose their freedom unless they breached the law.
Sarah McInerney questioned Lynn Boylan if half of the 5,000 individuals who sought asylum in the first quarter of the year arrived from another EU nation, and inquired how Sinn Féin would return them if not through the pact.
Initially, Boylan responded ambiguously to the question. After being asked the same question three times, Boylan finally admitted that there was nothing preventing Ireland from implementing it now.
This instigated a back-and-forth debate between Boylan and Andrews, with Aodhan Ó Ríordáin interrupting in between.
Throughout the debate, the representative from the Labour Party demonstrated stability and composure, even when challenged. Despite the claim that his party’s European cohort supported the pact, Ó Ríordáin countered that he opposed it due to the intrinsic potential to erode various rights and instigate a situation in the UK similar to Rwanda’s plight.
Fair play should be given to Sinéad Gibney of the Social Democrats and Bríd Smith from People Before Profit, who both robustly expressed their unaltered perspective that the number of asylum seekers at present is not problematic. In spite of recent conversation trends, such a stance can seem startling when voiced. This viewpoint directly opposes the narrative of ‘Ireland being overpopulated.’
When questioned by Miriam O’Callaghan on whether she would impose any limit on migration, Gibney categorically disagreed, insisting that framing the debate in such a way was inappropriate. Highlighting Ireland’s obligation to assess the validity of protection claims, she stated that 30,000 asylum seekers in a nation of more than five million was trivial. Gibney was awarded the “dictionary corner” accolade for her usage of “cynical performative cruelty” to illuminate the political agendas behind border checks and document requests on flights.
Bríd Smith echoed this lack of limitations, advocating for immigration from less wealthy nations due to Ireland’s ageing population.
The discussion about climate change dramatically deviated from previous debates. All the Dublin candidates were in unison on radical measures such as culling livestock, potentially barring cars from the city centre, voiding the nitrate derogation, and even restoring Ireland’s bogs.
Cuffe, a Green MEP, shone brightest during this discussion, as one would anticipate. With resilience, he rebutted Regina Doherty’s controversial comparison of bike lanes to the Berlin Wall. He dismissed her remark as the type overheard at the rear of a pub at closing time, or something reminiscent of a bygone era, three decades prior.
Doherty defended herself and her party Fine Gael’s commitment to environmental conservation, criticizing the Green party for its authoritarian approach and not considering public sentiment. Cuffe countered by recollecting a previous statement where she had expressed her concern regarding the safety of her children cycling due to insufficient cycle paths in the town.
On other issues, the consensus was limited. Boylan’s strong stance on global warming differed significantly from her Sinn Féin associates. Gibney suggested that while farmers require support, there was also a need for herd replacement. Ó Ríordáin voiced his support for any changes that would be environmentally responsible, even endorsing the idea of making cities car-free.
The final part of these debates often entail provocative personal enquiries. Finding a question that would impact all candidates equally was difficult. Some candidates had an easy run, with Bríd Smith being asked about Clare Daly’s refusal to form an electoral alliance with People Before Profit (PBP), which she answered adeptly emphasizing PBP’s essence as “a party powered by the people”.
Ó Ríordáin’s liking for Dublin and why he intended to leave it for Europe was another straightforward question. Candidates like Barry Andrews (housing), Regina Doherty (Ursula von der Leyen), Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin flip-flops) and Ciarán Cuffe (Green surge on decline) were met with slightly demanding questions.
A daunting question was put forward to Gibney, relating to the opinion of several political critics who believed Rory Hearne would have been a more suitable candidate for the Soc Dems in Dublin than her. However, she defended her candidacy by insisting she was the ideal candidate due to her innovative perspective, robust leadership, and experiences. She viewed the comments as a low blow and utterly uncalled for.
Likewise, Daly was interrogated closely about her interactions with the Omagh bombing accused, Liam Campbell. She had an adequate response, stating that as part of an Oireachtas panel initiative, she always interacted with political inmates, and she believed in rehabilitation for individuals involved in acts of militancy.