MARY LOU MCDONALD has said she is happy to debate the Tánaiste Joan Burton “at any time, any place” after the Tánaiste laid down the gauntlet at the weekend.
Burton told reporters at the Labour conference on Sunday that she was happy to debate the Sinn Féin deputy leader on the economy “to see if she has any plans to get people back to work”.
Speaking today at the launch of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis clár, McDonald said she was “absolutely” open to the possibility of a debate.
I would welcome a debate at any time, any place. I am more than happy to do that. I actually believe it’s a very necessary part now of the pre-election and what will become the election debate. So, yes, of course I’m very open to that.
McDonald and Burton have frequently clashed on a Thursday afternoon in the Dáil where the Tánaiste usually takes questions from the deputy leaders of opposition parties.
There have been some particularly robust, entertaining and newsworthy exchanges between the two most prominent female politicians in the country.
Read: Tánaiste tells Mary Lou to ‘get real’ and ‘stop spreading Sinn Féin lies’
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