THE DIRECTOR OF Fine Gael’s Seanad referendum campaign says that he will debate with anyone on the issue, but says that “everyone can see what Micheál Martin is up to”.

With Taoiseach Enda Kenny as yet uncommitted to a televised debate on the issue, Richard Bruton said that he would have no problem stepping up to debate with Martin.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the party’s new ad campaign around the issue, Richard Bruton accused the Fianna Fáil leader of asking “someone to hold his coat while he gets into the ring and has a go at the Taoiseach”.

Bruton said that Fine Gael was distibuting 600,000 leaflets on the issue around the country, but rejected the notion that the party was avoiding debate on the issue of Seanad abolition.

“Micheál Martin was saying two years ago that the Seanad should be abolished.

I will debate anyone, anywhere.  I am the director of this campaign.

“We believe our case is compelling and I believe that the more we talk to people, the more of a chance we get to affect the outcome.”

Bruton said that the abolition can deliver the promised €20 million in savings, but it was up to government to deliver that saving.

Read: Martin accepts RTÉ invite to debate on Seanad abolition but Taoiseach not keen

Read: Oireachtas: It’s not possible to estimate how much abolishing Seanad would save

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