Eight candidates from the Ireland South constituency took part in a debate on RTÉ’s Prime Time this evening.
Those candidates were: Billy Kelleher Fianna Fail, Grace O Sullivan Green Party, Paul Gavan Sinn Fein, John Mullins Fine Gael, Mick Wallace Independents 4 Change, Michael McNamara Independent, Lorna Bogue Rabharta Party, and Niamh Hourigan Labour.
Topics being discussed included migration, agriculture, climate change, security and defence.
It was a sedate affair until it hit the halfway mark, just after 10pm, when the first interruption was followed by a series of interruptions.
The debate first became unruly during a discussion on agriculture.
Rabharta leader Lorna Bogue said that the Government must “pay farmers” to leave land near waterways clear.
There is a project in Co Cork that already does just that, the city councillor revealed.
However, this was dismissed by Fine Gael’s John Mullins.
“Farmers want to grow food,” he declared, adding that he disagreed with a reduction of the national herd.
This prompted Sinn Féin’s Paul Gavan to state that Fine Gael has plunged a new generation of farmers into desperation.
The Limerick-based senator said that he had the testimony of farmers to support this point and criticised Fine Gael’s long time in Government.
Host Fran McNulty had to step in to stop the interruptions, and then moved on to the topic of defence – where things became animated again.
Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher condemned “the strong influence of German politics” in the EU.
Mr Kelleher said that he would oppose Ursula Von der Leyen’s reappointment as President of the European Commission – should she be nominated.
Following this, Mr Gavan interjected questioning the sitting MEP over whether Fianna Fáil as a party would support Ms Von Leyen’s reappointment.
Mr Gavan emphasised that Ireland was firmly neutral.
He outlined his position – show solidarity, but no fighting – if another European country, this time in the EU, was invaded.
“We opposed flooding the place with arms,” Mick Wallace of Independents 4 Change said of his record on Ukraine.
Russia should be held accountable for any crimes it has committed, he added.
However, Mr Wallace refused to accept that his opposition to an EU resolution on the subject had hindered Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
This prompted vocal condemnation which had to be quelled.
In a comment directed at John Mullins, Mr Wallace described a vote for Fine Gael as “a vote for a warmonger and a nasty piece of work”.
Mr Mullins responded that a vote for Mr Wallace was “a vote for Russia”.
Labour’s Niamh Hourigan suggested that it was “the symbolism of the EU trying to hold Russia to account for its crimes in Ukraine” that mattered.
While she accepted that her party is in “a trough”, Ms Hourigan insisted that she “certainly intends to be a part of that journey upwards”.
The Independent candidate Michael McNamara did not voice support for Ms Von der Leyen either.
However, the Clare TD highlighted the plight of businesses who he said required workers, adding that not enough work permits are being issued.
In the opening segment on migration, the former Labour deputy said that people deserve a fair hearing, which is not happening because of delays in the Department of Justice, whose performance he repeatedly criticised.
The Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan said she has “grave concerns” over the EU migration pact.
“I will be the wasp in Eamon Ryan and Roderick O’Gorman’s ears,” the sitting MEP said, adding that she is “very uncomfortable” with aspects of the pact.
When Miriam O’Callaghan asked if the Green Party were “seriously suggesting” culling the national herd, Ms O’Sullivan responded: “There’s nitrates in my water.”
