Cross-party political debate cancelled

[David Cochrane]

Green Party Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty has accused the larger political parties of political cowardice following a decision by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour to shun a cross-party political debate on RTE television. The cross-party debate has now been replaced with a debate between Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny and an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Deputy Gogarty goes on to call this attitude 'Presidential' in just presenting Ahern and Kenny as the two future leaders of the country rather than parties that could hold the balance of power "such as the Greens'.

Is this a good move? What's the most ideal form of debate? Is it really on a national level? Would the performance of Bertie or Kenny influence you voting for their parties - or are you more concerned with your local candidate? Would you prefer your local candidates to debate on a local setting?

[Universal_001]

Last week the Americans managed to have a debate with 8 people (tho in the US style it was more like a joint press confrance, very little ACTUAL debate)

So why is it a struggle to have a debate with

Bertie Ahearn
Michael McDowell
Enda Kenny
Pat Rabbitte
Trevor Seargent
Joe Higgins
Gerry Adams

Since Bertie and Enda are in virtual full policy agreement, such a two man debate would decend into a snoozefest with both spewing statistics about the governments record like the Noonan-Ahearn deabte in 2002

[Fr. Hank Tree]

The original plan was to have all 6 at the same time. First Bertie and Enda would make their little talks and then start debating.

Then Pat Rabbitte and McDowell would make theirs, and then join in with Enda and Bertie

Then the same thing would happen with Trevor Sargent and Gerry Adams..

While the smaller parties favoured this, the big 3 didn't. Labour hate the way they are always thrown in with the PDs even though they are a much bigger party.

Enda Kenny and Bertie ahern are the only possible taoisigh at the end of the day, so it makes sense

[dmc333]

Yeah, look at canadas debates with all four main parties and you rarely here any policies because the moderators cant control that many voices.

Lets face it Enda Kenny and Bertie will be the only 2 men that can lead a government in 3 weeks.

What could happen though is Parties like Labour,Green,PDs and SF could have a seperate debate, and higlight if they were in government what the would do.

[Munion]

McD vs Rabbitte would be great to watch even for people who aren't in the PDs or Labour.

Six-Way thing though wouldn't be much of a debate.

Trevor v Gerry would be kinda boring.

[Universal_001]

1. This is similar to the "it's a two party system" argument in America where they inentionally rig the system for two parties then say no third party can win, noboy but FF or FG will ever be leaders of governement if we don't hear alternative ideas.
Look what happened then when Ross Perot was allowd into the debates, he lead in the polls for a long time and evneutally ended up with a huge chunk of the vote.

2. It's not just about whos Taoiseach, it's about policy diffrences, and between Enda and Bertie there are very VERY few.

[Jim84]

Can understand why Kenny and Bertie were against it. Adams, Rabbitte and McDowell are all much better orators.

But can't understand why Rabbitte was against the 6 way debate. Would have thought he'd be confident of beating the other participants.

If SF were putting up some for debate would they've not nominated some from the south?

[Limerick Lad]

Unless Gerry Adams decides to stand for a Dail seat in the Republic, Sinn Fein's representative in such a debate should at least be a candidate for the Dail and more correctly one of their already elected TDs.

[farnaby]

Debates only work when they have a defined scope or issue to address, through which the speakers can express their beliefs and values to arrive at relevant conclusions and disprove those of their opponents. Ain't a hope of that happening in a general all-party leaders debate - or indeed in a Bertie/Enda debate where time constraints will necessitate bland soundbites.

Better to focus on the main areas of public policy - health, economy, justice etc. - in separate debates with the involvement of each party's representative on the matter. Leave Bertie and Enda out of it altogether, they already have the lion's share televised speeches, interviews etc.

[Defeated Romanticist]

There would have to be questions of fairness raised if there was a six way debate. the opposition would get twice as much speaking time as the govt. There should be a FF/FG debate and a PD/Lab debate. Why Joe Higgins should be included is beyond me. He is a glorified independant.