{"id":3611,"date":"2018-10-23T18:45:03","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T23:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=3611"},"modified":"2018-10-24T08:47:11","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T13:47:11","slug":"higgins-attacked-for-extravagant-lifestyle-in-presidential-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=3611","title":{"rendered":"Higgins Attacked for ‘Extravagant’ Lifestyle in Presidential Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kinlan Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>President Michael D Higgins was repeatedly attacked for his \u201cextravagant\u201d lifestyle and Learjet trips amid claims that he \u201ccould not lie straight in bed\u201d over spending during tonight’s high-profile presidential debate.<\/p>\n

The questions were thrown at President Higgins in the final head-to-head battle between all six candidates, which also saw Peter Casey labelled \u201cNigel Farage\u201d for his views on Travelers and claims their ethnic minority identity lets them \u201cbenefit financially with houses and fields\u201d.<\/p>\n

In a lively 90-minute debate which saw candidates attempt to damage their rivals in one last bid for the \u00c1ras, President Higgins repeatedly clashed with rivals over his alleged spending habits.<\/p>\n

After President Higgins he traveled to Belfast on May 29 by Learjet because he needed to also attend \u201can international piano competition\u201d, Mr Casey said \u201che couldn\u2019t lie straight in bed\u201d and noted the previous claim that it was for security reasons by highlighting a previous trip to Munster by saying: \u201cWere there security issues in Kerry?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gavin Duffy also attacked President Higgins, saying the president is distracted by the \u201ctrappings\u201d of power, while Sean Gallagher said there are similarities with the 2009 resignation of ex-Fianna F\u00e1il ceann comhairle John O Donoghue.<\/p>\n

However, President Higgins continued to defend himself, saying: \u201cI don\u2019t consider it an extravagance\u201d and stressing his entire life has been about \u201cauthenticity\u201d.<\/p>\n

The early exchanges of the debate were dominated by Mr Casey\u2019s recent remarks about Travelers, with Sinn F\u00e9in candidate Liadh N\u00edRiada labeling him \u201cNigel Farage\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Ni Riada faced further questions about her views on the HPV vaccine, while senator Joan Freeman angrily rejected suggestions that her Pieta House has not saved the lives of 30,000 people.<\/p>\n

Despite repeatedly attacking other candidates, Mr Gallagher at times appeared angry with other claims from rivals, including when Mr Casey said \u201cI don\u2019t think RT\u00c9 did anything wrong\u201d during the 2011 Tweetgate presidential controversy and Gavin Duffy, who said: \u201cSean, you don\u2019t want to waste time on something that is an embarrassment to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

On their way into RT\u00c9 before the debate began, the five challengers to the incumbent appeared tense at the last chance to personally land a blow on President Higgins and potentially drag themselves back into contention.<\/p>\n

Mr Higgins and Mr Casey did not comment to reporters on entering RT\u00c9\u2019s TV studio.<\/p>\n

However, Ms N\u00ed Riada said she was hoping for a \u201crespectful debate with no bombshells\u201d, and Ms Freeman said she was looking forward to \u201csetting out our stalls\u201d after a two-month campaign and just days before Friday\u2019s vote.<\/p>\n

The expenses questions continued yesterday, with the \u00c1ras defending the news that a woman described by Mr Higgins as his \u201cgifted floral arranger\u201d traveled with the \u20ac28,194 official presidential delegation to Australia in 2017.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher has confirmed he will take part in the final debate of the presidential campaign on Virgin Media Ireland tomorrow in a last-ditch bid to win over wavering voters, but insisted this is not because he is trailing Mr Higgins by 56 points in the polls.<\/p>\n

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