Election 2016 – Has Taoiseach already gone into hiding?

THE 2016 GENERAL ELECTION campaign may only be into its first full day but already Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of hiding from the media after he failed to turn up to a leaders' interview on the main evening 6.1 news on RTÉ TV on Wednesday, sending the Health Minister in his place.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD hit out at Kenny's no-show:

“Every other leader of the state's main political parties participated. This was the first opportunity for each leader to set out the stall of their party. Enda Kenny did not seem to think that it was worth his while and sent Leo Varadkar in his place.”

He accused An Taoiseach of spending five years dodging questions in the Dáil:

“It appears that this election campaign will be no different,” he added.

During the 2011 General Election, Enda Kenny also refused to take part in a number of debates, most famously snubbing the televised leaders' debate on TV3.