‘How dare you?!’ — Major tension as Simon Harris and Mary Lou McDonald clash in debate

The leaders of ten political parties partook in a televised debate on RTÉ One’s Upfront with Katie Hannon on Monday night as the General Election nears.

In the offset, the party leaders briefly touched on what their policies would be should they get voted into Government, with many refraining from confirming which of the three main parties they would go into Government with.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald said "of course" it was possible for her party to lead the next Government, outlining her party has 71 candidates in total.

People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett appeared to be one of the only candidates who gave a firm confirmation that his party would go into coalition with Sinn Féin.

"We want to end 100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael," he stated, adding that the parties are responsible for the vulture funds as well as propping up the wealthy "at the expense" of the vulnerable.

Before long, Harris and McDonald clashed, with the Taoiseach as well as Tánaiste Micheal Martin calling the Dublin native out for her party not having published their manifesto as of yet.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald.

Ms McDonald confirmed the manifesto would be published on Tuesday morning, with speculation that the timing was to avoid being questioned on Monday’s debate.

Ms McDonald added that the party had been publishing "clear commitments" in recent months as opposed to "baubles."

 She added that she was "astonished" at Fine Gael‘s proposal on a saving fund for infants not born yet when there were 4,500 homeless children and others waiting for spinal surgery.

The comment sparked enrage from An Taoiseach who questioned: "How dare you?!" at McDonald’s accusation of "faux" concern for children.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris.

McDonald clarified that: "Nobody has a monopoly on compassion, but here’s the thing… you and Micheal Martin have had a monopoly for a very long time, and yet here we are."

At further criticism from Mr Harris and Mr Martin that Sinn Fein had not yet published its manifesto, Ms McDonald suggested they would read it with the intention of taking their policies.

A testy exchange then ensued between Martin and McDonald, with the Cork TD accusing Sinn Féin of opposing "every single thing that built this country."

"They opposed membership of the European Union, which was transformative," he said. "They opposed every trade deal which created hundreds of thousands of jobs.

"They opposed the industrial strategy which led to the multinationals coming here and low corporation taxes.

"You opposed our Constitution for the vast majority of that 100 years, and you murdered Gardaí and soldiers as well."

Tanaiste (Deputy leader) and Fine Fail TD, Micheal Martin.

Ms McDonald accused Harris and Martin of "politics of entitlement writ large," while An Taoiseach interrupted to accuse of her trying to "airbrush the past."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.