TV debate:The leaders of the four smaller political parties will debate the general election issues in a one-hour Prime Time special on RTÉ television tonight.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, Michael McDowell of the Progressive Democrats and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will debate the economy, health, crime and other issues during the programme chaired by Mark Little.
The four-way leadership debate comes 24 hours before the head-to-head between the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, to be broadcast tomorrow night and chaired by Miriam O'Callaghan.
An RTÉ spokeswoman said yesterday that the format for both programmes would be the same, with all the leaders making a two-minute opening statement before discussing the issues. Tonight's debate will start after the 9pm news and will last one hour.
Tomorrow's debate between the alternative taoisigh will start at about 9.40pm and last until about 11pm. A special Prime Time programme to review the debate will be broadcast at 11.40pm.
There was discussion yesterday between the parties on the issues to be debated. The spokeswoman said last night that in each case it has been agreed that the main issues of the economy, crime and health will be discussed.
The leaders' debate - which takes place exactly a week before polling - is expected to be crucial to the outcome of the election. In the last two campaigns the leaders' debates were held nearer polling day.
Fianna Fáil had wanted the debate to be held next week but RTÉ said they could not accommodate that. Fine Gael's preference was for a debate further out from polling.