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03/10/2011
Mitchell To Officially Launch Campaign
Fine Gael's Presidential candidate, Gay Mitchell, will officially launch his campaign today, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny by his side.
The launch comes just hours after senior Fine Gael members made disparaging comments about Sinn Fein Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness.
The pressure will now be on the Taoiseach to see if he backs up claims such as those from the party's Environment Minister Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan suggested that US companies would be "appalled" if Mr McGuinness were elected to the Aras.
Mr Hogan said: "Ireland's competitors would not be slow to whisper about a terrorist in the park."
Meanwhile Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Keogh added his two cents when he alleged that Mr McGuinness has the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbery "at his disposal".
Mitchell was reluctant to endorse these statements, but instead launched his own separate attack on McGuinness as both candidates took part in a heated debate on Newstalk's Eamon Dunphy show.
"This man (McGuinness) says that he is not a member of the IRA and hasn't been since 1974 – that's not true, Martin," Mitchell told his rival.
"You say you are not running for Sinn Fein. That's not true, Martin.
"You say you live on the average industrial wage – you earned about €200,000 last year. Publish your P60 – it's not true, Martin."
McGuinness rubbished the attacks as nothing more than 'dirty tricks' from Fine Gael.
He said he earns an annual salary of £112,000 for his position as Stormont's Deputy First Minister.
Mr McGuinness said that this money goes straight into a Sinn Féin bank account, out of which he receives a subsistence.
"Minister Hogan is obviously totally out of touch with my work, as my recent trade mission to America with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson resulted in hundreds of new jobs being created in the North,"he added.
He called Fine Gael's attack 'black propaganda' and dirty tricks.
According to Mr McGuinness he has encountered more bitterness and vitriol during this campaign than from established Unionists in the North over the years.
Sinn Fein told RTE said the attacks were without merit or foundation.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said: "They think that attacking Martin McGuinness in this way will somehow boost their own support base within their own party."
(LB/BMcC)
The launch comes just hours after senior Fine Gael members made disparaging comments about Sinn Fein Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness.
The pressure will now be on the Taoiseach to see if he backs up claims such as those from the party's Environment Minister Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan suggested that US companies would be "appalled" if Mr McGuinness were elected to the Aras.
Mr Hogan said: "Ireland's competitors would not be slow to whisper about a terrorist in the park."
Meanwhile Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Keogh added his two cents when he alleged that Mr McGuinness has the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbery "at his disposal".
Mitchell was reluctant to endorse these statements, but instead launched his own separate attack on McGuinness as both candidates took part in a heated debate on Newstalk's Eamon Dunphy show.
"This man (McGuinness) says that he is not a member of the IRA and hasn't been since 1974 – that's not true, Martin," Mitchell told his rival.
"You say you are not running for Sinn Fein. That's not true, Martin.
"You say you live on the average industrial wage – you earned about €200,000 last year. Publish your P60 – it's not true, Martin."
McGuinness rubbished the attacks as nothing more than 'dirty tricks' from Fine Gael.
He said he earns an annual salary of £112,000 for his position as Stormont's Deputy First Minister.
Mr McGuinness said that this money goes straight into a Sinn Féin bank account, out of which he receives a subsistence.
"Minister Hogan is obviously totally out of touch with my work, as my recent trade mission to America with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson resulted in hundreds of new jobs being created in the North,"he added.
He called Fine Gael's attack 'black propaganda' and dirty tricks.
According to Mr McGuinness he has encountered more bitterness and vitriol during this campaign than from established Unionists in the North over the years.
Sinn Fein told RTE said the attacks were without merit or foundation.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said: "They think that attacking Martin McGuinness in this way will somehow boost their own support base within their own party."
(LB/BMcC)
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01 March 2011
Kenny Wins North's Backing
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30 September 2011
McGuinness 'Sympathetic To RUC Deaths'
Irish Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has this week extended sympathy to British soldiers and RUC officers who died during the Troubles, amidst fresh attacks about his IRA past. Since Mr McGuinness announced his intentions to run for the job of Irish President he has been subjected to intense questioning about his involvement in the IRA.
McGuinness 'Sympathetic To RUC Deaths'
Irish Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has this week extended sympathy to British soldiers and RUC officers who died during the Troubles, amidst fresh attacks about his IRA past. Since Mr McGuinness announced his intentions to run for the job of Irish President he has been subjected to intense questioning about his involvement in the IRA.
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