TAOISEACH Enda Kenny last night turned down an invite to participate in an EU fiscal treaty referendum hosted by veteran presenter Vincent Browne. Mr Kenny spent less than a day weighing up whether to attend the TV3 debate.

The TV station had invited all the party leaders to attend the debate next Tuesday, setting up the prospect of a face-off between Mr Kenny and Mr Browne.

Last year, Mr Kenny refused to participate in an Election 2011 debate if it was hosted by Mr Browne. The Government yesterday confirmed it had received the invite from TV3.

Mr Kenny will be using other ways to campaign and communicate with the public.

Taoiseach avoids 'fornication' row

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has refused to take sides in the 'fornication' storm started by his party and constituency colleague.

Fine Gael Mayo TD Michelle Mulherin sparked controversy last week when she described fornication as the biggest cause of unwanted pregnancy.

Mr Kenny has avoided stepping into the furore when asked by describing Ms Mulherin's views as "personal".

"I don't comment on people's personal views about their attitude towards the debate that was on in question," Mr Kenny said in a nervous response.

Ms Mulherin has stood by her view that some women use abortion as "birth control" and said she wasn't being judgmental.

During an interview on RTE's 'Saturday Night Show', she also said she was against sex outside of marriage.

Gilmore interest in eviction wanes

TANAISTE Eamon Gilmore's desire to get involved in the case of the millionaires' row couple evicted from their house appears to have waned.

Mr Gilmore promised last week to contact Brendan and Asta Kelly from Killiney as they were his constituents in Dun Laoghaire.

But yesterday a spokesman for the Tanaiste said the couple were not constituents.

"The Tanaiste has today received a letter from the couple," his spokesman said.

But, he added: "The couple is not on the electoral register for the Dun Laoghaire constituency."

The Labour Party leader originally said he was "very saddened and very distressed" about the eviction of the elderly couple.

But it later emerged the Kellys owned 21 properties.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan was less sympathetic, saying the Government had "no pledge to keep people in 21 different homes".

Irish Independent