Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin disagree on Sinn Féin inclusion in election TV debates

Mary Lou McDonald speaking at Sinn Fein's general election candidate launch in Dublin. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images Mary Lou McDonald speaking at Sinn Fein's general election candidate launch in Dublin. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images Updated 44 minutes ago

Buoyed by two strong opinion poll showings in recent days, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised the broadcasters for limiting the debates to head-to-heads between Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. “I don’t have a difficulty debating Micheal Martin head to head and I think it is right that we should do that but equally I would have no difficulty doing a debate involving the three leaders of the three major parties,” he said.Responding on a visit to Longford today, Martin said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were the only two parties that could lead the next government.

Mary Lou McDonald reacting to Taoiseach saying he’s open to a three-way debate pic.twitter.com/JXOQRE02IQMcDonald has characterised the decision to confine the debates to the two leaders as undemocratic. Related Read 20.01.20 Opinion poll: Just four points between three parties as FF tops, FG drops and SF climbs

RTE/VM. Pravda/Izvestia(?)

They're trying to create a dispute on the grounds of gender! This is apart of their wider strategy globally to address the major demands from women for full equal rights.

Minimum benchmark should be a candidate in every constituency. Greens do, SF not.

Let Mary Lou debate, with enough rope she'll hang herself. All it'll take is bringing up their open door immigration policy.

What are day afraid of

Sinn Fein are only running 44 candidates, therefore they will not be in any position to lead a government even if they won them them all. Therefore Mary Lou should not be included in the Taoiseach head to head Virgin Media/RTE debate. Plenty of other debates for her

Where’s he going with alternative government? He’s been propping up the current one

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Sinn Féin is 'taking legal advice' due to being excluded from RTÉ leaders' debate | JOE.ieIt follows in the wake of today's poll which puts Sinn Fein within the margin of error of being the second largest party in the country Not a fan of Sinn Fein but that is a disgrace. Are we trying to emulate the American 2 party system? The only leader debates on a state channel should include ALL leaders or else you are telling people only votes for the big parties matter. Democracy ya right!
Source: JOEdotie - 🏆 31. / 51 Read more »

Sinn Féin objects to Virgin Media for excluding Mary Lou from Leaders' debateThe party is also considering legal action against RTÉ for not including Sinn Féin. Sure they won't be getting anywhere so a vote for SinnFein is a waste of time. And rightly so Is Irish media reverting to Troubles default mode? Self-censorship/self-imposition of Sec 50 of Broadcasting Act?
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »