After the second debate of the Presidential Election campaign, Michéal Lehane takes a look at the key talking points.
Standout Moment
Jim Gavin revealed that he did not know if he owed a tenant more than €3,000 after they sought a refund over 16 years ago.
The detail was published in the Irish Independent yesterday.
Under intense questioning from Áine Lawlor, the Fianna Fáil candidate could only say that he is looking into the matter.
It was an extraordinary moment that could well be a defining one in the campaign.
He said too that his family experienced a very difficult time financially 16 years ago.
He also confirmed that the property back then did not meet the requirement of being registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.
Tactics
There were no dramatic hand movements from Jim Gavin, unlike Monday night's opening debate, instead, his hands were clasped.
He did look assured on the issue of neutrality and defence.
Heather Humphreys was keen to dismiss the notion that her heart might not be truly committed to this campaign, after a low-key debating performance last Monday.
This was a high energy approach which helped her negotiate some challenging questions relatively competently.
This included a charge that she is the establishment candidate who will never rock the boat.
Catherine Connolly had to contend with a more unified offensive position from the Government party candidates.
Her consistent response is one of calmly holding to her original position even if it is contentious. That remained the case here.
Russia
Heather Humphreys stated in forceful terms that Russia is bringing war back to Europe and accused Catherine Connolly of never condemning that country.
In what was one of the most heated parts of the debate, Catherine Connolly pointed out that the record shows this not to be the case.
Asked if she accepted that Russian aggression was the reason Germany was investing more in weapons, she did not budge from the view she voiced in UCD almost two weeks ago,
This is her opinion that there are parallels between Germany's spending on arms today and what happened in that country in the 1930s.
She also sought to broaden the discussion to other conflicts and urged the candidates to speak about the cost to humanity of genocide in Gaza.
Jim Gavin was unequivocal in his view that action must be taken against Russia because if that does not happen, the European Union’s eastern border will be invaded.
He also attempted again to distance himself from his words earlier in the campaign about Israel’s military objectives in Gaza, saying "whatever campaign Israel had, has to stop".
Heather Humpherys agreed with him that Ireland could in the future send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Staff Hiring
Catherine Connolly remains adamant that her judgement was correct when she hired a former prisoner, who had been convicted of gun offences, to work with her in Leinster House in 2018.
She said the woman was a success story of the prison system.
The woman, who was a member of Éirígí, was signed into the building each day by the Galway West TD because the security vetting process was never completed.
This, in the words of Heather Humphreys was "circumventing" the security standards of the House and she added that even someone training an U-12 team needs garda clearance.
She pointed out too that Éírigí had sought to dismantle the Good Friday Agreement, while Catherine Connolly stated that they were an anti-fascist party.
Jim Gavin contended that the security systems in the national Parliament had been bypassed by Catherine Connolly, adding that it raised questions about her judgement.
This is a criticism she has rejected by repeatedly saying that gardaí never told her, or the Ceann Comhairle at the time, that there were security concerns,
Winners and Losers
Catherine Connolly was put under more pressure in this debate compared to Monday night, but she did not get flustered.
Her explanations on foreign policy and the hiring of an ex-prisoner may not satisfy her presidential opponents, but neither could land a knockout blow either.
Heather Humphreys was more assertive and engaged throughout the debate and her campaign team will be buoyed up by this.
Jim Gavin’s more measured tone worked better than his handwaving approach earlier in the week, but his lack of a clear memory on whether he refunded a former tenant was awkward and almost certainly damaging.
