TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not be taking part in the referendum debate hosted by Vincent Browne on TV3 next week.

So far of the main political parties only Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has confirmed that he will be attending the debate next Tuesday at 9pm. People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett is also due to take part.

Kenny turned down an invitation to participate in Live – The Europe Debate with Vincent Browne earlier this week, it was confirmed.

The Fine Gael leader has previously turned down an offer to attend a debate hosted by the veteran broadcaster during the general election last year.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party said this morning that an invitation to its leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is “being considered”.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has also declined to take part as its understood that he does not wish to participate in any debate hosted by Browne because of allegations made about him by a contributor on a previous programme that the Louth TD believes went unchallenged.

The party has offered its deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald as an alternative, saying that TV3 has yet to respond to that offer.

TV3 has so far declined to comment.