Micheal O'Leary v Declan Ganley on Prime Time tonight (Thu 24 Sep)

[David Cochrane]

I create more jobs in this country than he does, I pay more taxes in this country than he does and if he wants to have a debate on how he thinks voting No is going to enhance either the Irish economy or job creation let's have a debate. I think the problem for Declan Ganley is he wants to be Dana but he couldn't get enough votes to get elected. Well I never wanted to be Dana, sadly I can't sing, I'm never going to run for political office so i think I have a more independent voice than some failed politician. - Micheal O'Leary on Declan Ganley

Micheal O'Leary and Declan Ganley will go head-to-head on RTE's Prime Time show tonight. This has been widely known in many circles, in both camps and in RTE for a few days that this debate was going to happen.

RTE Primetime - 9.35, RTE One Television

Micheal O'Leary and Declan Ganley will also be on opposing sides on The Last Word with Matt Cooper this evening from 4.30pm - in a Lisbon Debate Special in front of a live audience from the offices of The Irish Times.

The Last Word with Matt Cooper, 4.30 - 7.00 100 - 102 TodayFM

[Aindriu]

Hmm........ Blustering buffoon O'Leary or calm, sophisticated Ganley?

My bet is on Ganley to win this one!

[johnfás]

I wonder how Declan will get on with his conspiracy theories about "Mick" seeking to "curry favour" with the Commission in order to get the Aer Lingus deal through when he is up in front of the man.

[Supermanpolitician]

Legend. Have a late client visit but will definitely put it on Sky+ just in case.

Should be hilarious.

I suggest a drinking game when:

O'Leary swears
Ganley uses the cliche "failed politicians" without any sense of irony.
Ganley claims there is a better way, but fails to come up with it.
O'Leary calls the commissions a bunch of old farts, a bit like Ganley.

[McDave]

Should be interesting. Especially how it's set up. Do RTE have the balls to allow a fire-fight to unfold? Or will they try (their best!) to keep a lid on it!

As to the gladiators!

Ganley doesn't like it up him. He seems impressive when he's talking over people more polite than he is. But once that advantage is taken away, he can get a bit flustered and throw his toys out of the pram. Ivan Yates wiped the floor with him a couple of weeks ago on the Breakfast Show. You might say Yates was rude, throwing rapid-fire questions at him and not taking him at his word. But Ganley too often gets an easy ride on other shows.

Going on his normal form, O'Leary won't care a whit about interview niceties and will probably stick it to Ganley on his business credentials. Ganley will try to finesse the Libertas/EP debacle and his late entry into Lisbon 2. When Ganley tries to get technical on defence, tax and abortion, O'Leary will throw a few TV-tolerable expletives at him.

The beauty of this from the Yes perspective is that a draw (if O'Leary pulls his punches, or somehow performs badly) will be alright. It is the No side which needs the big win, and badly. It could all turn horribly, horribly wrong for them if Ganley gets a bloody nose. That would be game, set and match for the Yes campaign, and there'll be no more high profile media opportunities for Ganley. No face-off with Cox or whoever.

[Watcher1]

Should be interesting. Especially how it's set up. Do RTE have the balls to allow a fire-fight to unfold? Or will they try (their best!) to keep a lid on it!

As to the gladiators!

Ganley doesn't like it up him. He seems impressive when he's talking over people more polite than he is. But once that advantage is taken away, he can get a bit flustered and throw his toys out of the pram. Ivan Yates wiped the floor with him a couple of weeks ago on the Breakfast Show. You might say Yates was rude, throwing rapid-fire questions at him and not taking him at his word. But Ganley too often gets an easy ride on other shows.

Going on his normal form, O'Leary won't care a whit about interview niceties and will probably stick it to Ganley on his business credentials. Ganley will try to finesse the Libertas/EP debacle and his late entry into Lisbon 2. When Ganley tries to get technical on defence, tax and abortion, O'Leary will throw a few TV-tolerable expletives at him.

The beauty of this from the Yes perspective is that a draw (if O'Leary pulls his punches, or somehow performs badly) will be alright. It is the No side which needs the big win, and badly. It could all turn horribly, horribly wrong for them if Ganley gets a bloody nose. That would be game, set and match for the Yes campaign, and there'll be no more high profile media opportunities for Ganley. No face-off with Cox or whoever.

Interesting analysis McDave, and I must say, I dont know as much about Ganley as I do about Mick. Mick could also ruin it for the Yes side if he comes across to bullyboy because Ganley looks meek and mild. I'm sure he is not because he deals with the US military boys. It could go either way but promises to be the match of the Referendum. I cant wait.

[Bobert]

Anyone know if RTE's player will work on BlackBerry?

[rubensni]

Anyone know if RTE's player will work on BlackBerry?

Doubt it. It's flash based.

[Bobert]

Can that be fixed?

[davedub]

Should be quite the show-down.
O'Leary certainly has nothing to lose by going nuts on TV and taking it to Ganley all guns blazing. I bet a load of Yes campaigners and politicians are hoping O'Leary can do what they've failed to do with Ganley.