The Labour Party has rejected an RTÉ proposal for a televised debate during the general election campaign between its leader, Pat Rabbitte, and Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats Michael McDowell.
In a radical change to the traditional format, RTÉ has written to the parties proposing a six-way leaders' debate before a live studio audience, plus two further debates - one between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the alternative taoiseach, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, and the other between the Tánaiste and the alternative tánaiste, Pat Rabbitte.
While Fine Gael has broadly welcomed the RTÉ proposals, the Labour Party said yesterday it wants instead a four-way debate involving the four party leaders from the two alternative governments.
Labour environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore described the proposal from RTÉ for a debate involving the six party leaders as "an interesting one which we will be happy to discuss further with them".
He added: "However, it appears that the format proposed by RTÉ does not involve any interaction between the various party leaders, who would be restricted to answering questions from the audience and, as such, would be of limited value."
Mr Gilmore said a four-way debate, with the leaders able to interact with each other, would be something new in the Irish political broadcasting and would give the voters an opportunity to assess the respective strengths of the alternatives on offer.
This general election, he said, will be unique in the era of modern television in that it will be the first time since 1973 that there will be two distinct political blocks offering themselves to the people as alternative governments. RTÉ s arrangement for the coverage of this election should reflect this.
Mr Gilmore said the PDs are a niche party that will contest only a limited number of seats while the Labour Party will contest every constituency.
"We are simply not prepared to accept that the Labour Party or its leader should be relegated to some political second division with the Progressive Democrats."
While Fine Gael has welcomed the RTÉ proposals in principle it also wants two additional debates between Enda Kenny and Bertie Ahern, one on crime and the other on health.
Furthermore, Fine Gael is seeking clarification on the first six-way debate and in particular is asking if it is the intention to divide the party leaders into separate "pairs". It says a live studio format with "pairings" would be acceptable but a six-way debate would be unworkable.
Fianna Fáil is not commenting on the RTÉ proposals other than saying the party had received the letter and would be responding in due course.
A spokesman for the Tánaiste said the Progressive Democrats are looking forward to "all invitations from RTÉ and elsewhere" for debates during the election. "When we see the various options we will make our decision," he said.
A Green Party spokesman said it welcomed the six-way debate, but the party is seeking clarification on the make-up of the studio audience.
A spokeswoman for Sinn Féin said the party is broadly in support of a six-way leaders' debate and rejected the Labour Party proposal for a four-way debate.