Kenny scared? Fine Gael Leader told to "grow a set."

Amid allegations of cowardice Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny appeals to facebook. Leader told to "grow a set."

Eamon Gilmore is the latest to voice concern that Mr Kenny is rejecting Micheal Martin’s calls for 3 way leaders' debates in the run up to the general election.

The Labour leader advised in Cork Friday morning that he would support having televised debates between himself, Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail.

Ciaran Lynch, Labour TD, told Rte news on Thursday, “should Fine Gael fail to show Labour will go head to head with Fianna Fáil.”

Fine Gael’s official Facebook page has appealed for support to their followers asking: “What form of leaders' debate would you like to see?”

The party then restate their preference for “a five way debate” and further desire for “a debate in a neutral venue with a neutral agreed moderator.”

The run up to the 2007 election saw then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern go head to head with Mr Kenny. Mr Ahern was widely reported to have outperformed deputy Kenny.

There have been suggestions that Mr Kenny is worried about the a similar situation eventuating with Mr Martin, generally regarded as an effective communicator.

Response to Fine Gael’s initiative on the social networking site has not been entirely supportive. Many users are not interested in hearing any debates.

Facebook user Brian McCarthy has stated, “I think the smaller parties get too much press coverage in relation to the proportion of people that vote for them.”

On the same forum Emma Louise advised, “Since neither the Greens nor Sinn Féin are gonna be the major policy makers - I'd rather hear a 3 way debate” while Jason O’Mahony has criticised Kenny’s “lack of leadership of late.”

Luke Martin replied online to Fine Gael/Kenny’s plea with “Would you ever grow a set! You are handing the election and the Taoiseach's office to Eamon Gilmore!”

Fellow social networker Jamie Cullinan backed the call for a 5 way initiative commenting, “FF don't want the indignity of Sinn Fein debating alongside them and Labour just want their Nick Clegg moment. Let’s hear…’em all.”

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin reiterated his preference for televised debates between Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail. The TD for Cork South Central agreed to participate in discussions between the 5 leaders in tandem with his original suggestion.

Speaking to Rte Friday morning Mr Martin offered Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams a 1 on 1 debate.