TV debate:Fianna Fáil is unhappy with RTÉ proposals to hold a head-to-head election debate between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny a week before polling day.
In a letter to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, RTÉ proposed a live debate between Mr Ahern and Mr Kenny, chaired by Prime Time's Miriam O'Callaghan, on May 17th after the nine o'clock news. Fine Gael said it was happy with the proposal, but Fianna Fáil is to write to RTÉ today expressing reservations over the date.
A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman told The Irish Timeslast night the party believed the debate should be held in the last week of the campaign, when the parties have laid out their policies and when debate on the issues will have evolved. "We would prefer to have the debate in the last days of the campaign," she added.
A Fine Gael spokesman said Enda Kenny is "ready and up for a debate" and the party's preference all along had been for a debate a week out from polling.
"It is apparent that Fianna Fáil is having a bad campaign and they are under pressure and we can see why they don't want to debate the issues."
RTÉ's editor of current affairs, David Nally, said he was awaiting Fianna Fáil's response and would not comment until then. Mr Nally said a debate between the PDs' leader, Michael McDowell, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was planned for Wednesday May 16th, to be chaired by Mark Little.
He said Labour declined an offer to have a representative. Mr Sargent and Mr Adams have agreed to participate, but RTÉ was awaiting a response from Mr McDowell, he added.