Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore today called on the leaders of the two main political parties to join him in a televised debate on the future of the country ahead of what he termed, the most important elections in recent history.
Mr Gilmore was speaking at the launch of Ivana Bacik¿s Dublin Central byelection campaign outside Leinster House this morning.
The Labour Party leader said that he had never witnessed such a concentration on national issues as he had in the past few weeks and said that in the light of this, it was of paramount importance for Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to set out their policies before voters.
¿These elections are taking place at a very difficult time in the history of the country. There is an extraordinary engagement by people over what candidates have to say and in particular what political parties have to say, about the affairs of this State at the moment.
¿I believe that the electorate is entitled to hear the three party leaders, listen to the analysis they have of the current situation and consider what proposals they have to deal with our problems,¿ he added.
During the campaign launch, Mr Gilmore again ruled out the possibility of a coalition with Fianna Fáil
¿The Labour Party wants to put Fianna Fáil out of Government and we have been absolutely consistent on this. Fianna Fáil has brought this country to the brink of economic ruin. Their policies and in particular their support for developers and bankers, is what has caused the huge problems this country has and the Labour Party wants them out of office and our objective is to do this,¿ he said.
Mr Gilmore said that while his party had just 20 seats in the Dáil and were behind both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the opinion polls, he believed that a profound transformation of the political landscape was taking place, one in which the Labour Party would play a major role.
¿The world has changed and it continues to change¿We are seeing dramatic change about to take place in this country and I believe that people are looking, not just for a change of personnel, not just for a change in the faces sitting at the cabinet change but for a fresh start, for different politics and a different approach to the way in which our country is run,¿ he said.
Dublin Central candidate Ivana Bacik claimed the Labour Party had received a ¿very positive response¿ from voters on doorsteps and was confident it could win the byelection.
¿There is enormous anger on the doorsteps over what Fianna Fáil has been doing over cutbacks to social welfare, to pension entitlements and over childcare supplements.
"The result is that there's more chance of Michael O'Leary singing The Red Flagthan there is of Fianna Fáil winning the Dublin Central byelection," she added.
