Nobody’s coming out of this looking particularly strong, it seems.
The Eighth Amendment – and Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s refusal to nail down a position on it – was the hot topic following the TV3 Leaders’ Debate on Thursday night.
The Fine Gael leader would not say whether he would support a referendum to change the country’s abortion laws, with the General Election just over a fortnight away.
Needless to say, his lack of clarity did not go down well with those watching at home.
You could ask Enda Kenny his name and he would talk for five minutes without saying ‘Enda’ or ‘Kenny’. #LeadersDebate
— Damien Owens (@OwensDamien) February 11, 2016
"And now we go to the eighth amendment". Enda does the Bambi sad face. Everyone turns on kettle and mutes TV. #leadersdebate
— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) February 11, 2016
It's like watching your aunts and uncles fighting over who's going to crash land the plane. #leadersdebate
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) February 11, 2016
Ultimately, neither Kenny nor Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin would definitely state their position on repealing the eighth, talking only about ‘considering it carefully.’
I'd nearly vote for Donald Trump at this point. #leadersdebate
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) February 11, 2016
As Kenny, Joan Burton, Martin and Gerry Adams faced off, it was felt that the Independents and smaller parties were the only ones who might benefit from the shouting match.
@JOEdotie "Gerry don't wave your finger at me!" – Burton, #leadersdebate #CanIJustSay pic.twitter.com/gpvPDDWEKv
— Mark Kent (@Kent_Mark1992) February 11, 2016
The normally unflappable Pat Kenny grew ever more exasperated as the leaders of our country’s parties squabbled like five-year-olds after too much cake at a birthday party.
“I’m listening to this five [four?] way at the moment and if I can’t understand it what chance do the people at home have,” he interjected at one point.
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