TV COVERAGE:BOTH TV3 and Sky News unveiled proposals yesterday for a leaders' debate in advance of the general election. However, the participation of the politicians has not been confirmed.
RTÉ said the station had not yet confirmed its arrangements for a leaders’ debate.
While Sky News wants to host a five-way debate with the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens and Sinn Féin, TV3 is planning a three-way debate with the leaders of the largest parties. It has said it will give the two smaller parties "airtime" on current affairs programme Tonight With Vincent Browne.
The station said it had consulted with each of the three main parties over the past year, and had based its format on Oireachtas rules around speaking rights in the Dáil.
It had proposed a formal debate early in the general election campaign. Director of election coverage Bob Hughes said the station wanted to give the leaders of the three main parties an opportunity to debate the most serious issues affecting the country in a fair and impartial forum.
“We believe it is in the national interest that viewers should be fully informed about party policies during the election campaign and form a judgment on our potential future taoiseach. “
The proposed Sky News debate would be moderated by Adam Boulton, the station’s political editor.
It had approached all the leading parties inviting them to take part. John Ryley, head of Sky News, said the station would bring the issues to a wider audience, both in the UK and across the world.
“Sky News viewers have never been so engaged with the country and the outcome of its general election.”
