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WE’RE JUST OVER a week away from polling day and tonight all six candidates in the presidential election faced off for the first time in a TV studio.
Tonight’s Virgin Media One debate, moderated by Pat Kenny, followed Saturday’s six-way radio debate and Monday’s RTÉ TV debate hosted by Claire Byrne.
Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, Senator Joan Freeman, Sean Gallagher, President Michael D Higgins and MEP Liadh Ní Riada all took part.
And so, in an industrial estate on the edge of the M50, the six battle-weary candidates once again enter the arena of conflict.
….
Okay, that’s probably a little too Game of Thrones, as openers go.
We’ll try again.
Welcome along folks, it’s the Virgin Media One presidential debate chaired by Pat Kenny.
No need to switch over right away – unless you’re a fan of Gogglebox Ireland, in which case be our guest! – the show doesn’t start till 10.
In case you were wondering – all six candidates are set to appear tonight, after Michael D Higgins and Sean Gallagher sat out Monday night’s Claire Byrne-hosted debate.
The stage is set and the candidates began arriving at Ballymount in the last hour or so.
Gavin Duffy, Liadh Ní Riada and Sean Gallagher both took another opportunity to criticise Peter Casey for his comments about Travellers as they arrived, according to reporters at Ballymount.
Michael D Higgins and Joan Freeman chose not to answer questions on their way in.
Earlier, all five candidates rounded on Casey over his remarks.
In case you spent most of the day living under a rock (we’re a little jealous if you did, frankly) Casey threw a grenade into the presidential race by saying that Travellers should not be recognised as an ethnic minority because they are “basically people camping in someone else’s land”, and that Travellers are “not paying their fair share of taxes in society”.
Casey announced earlier that tomorrow he plans to travel to a Tipperary housing estate at the centre of a dispute between a Traveller family and the local council.
This will be the first time Sean Gallagher and Pat Kenny have been part of the same TV programme since the infamous Frontline debate of the 2011 campaign.
The candidate, who took RTÉ to court over how that programme was handled, addressed his own failings on that night in his first appearance on the campaign trail this year, speaking to Leitrim Co Council.
Claims that Gallagher had once collected a cheque for €5,000 for a Fianna Fáil fundraiser derailed the Dragon’s Den star’s campaign during the 2011 debate – which was the last set-piece media event of that campaign
He initially dismissed them when they were raised in the programme by Martin McGuinness.
Later, Kenny raised the issue again saying that a tweet had been issued from an account apparently linked to the Sinn Féin candidate, claiming that the man Gallagher picked the cheque up from would be at a press conference the following day.
Gallagher stumbled in his response to the false tweet, saying he had “no recollection” of the events described. His reply was met with hoots of derision from the studio audience.
The businessman later launched a legal action – and last December the national broadcaster apologised to him and agreed to pay out “substantial damages” over the incident.
As part of the settlement an apology from RTÉ was read out in court, in which the broadcaster accepted it should have verified the origin of the tweet which was read to the candidate on air.
“On that evening I let myself down and I let you the members of this council down and for that I am truly sorry,” Gallagher said last month.
Kenny has said this week that there won’t be any live tweets read out while the programme is taking place.
“I can’t regret being professional on the night. I have expressed the view publicly, that there was no finding against me or the core Frontline team,” he told The Irish Sun.
The veteran broadcaster and the businessman are on good terms these days after making up in recent years, it appears.
Again from the Sun:
“Sean was in being interviewed for the (Newstalk) breakfast programme, he just approached my desk and offered his hand and I was happy to shake it.”
Back at the studio, Joan Freeman’s looking relaxed…
As is Liadh Ní Riada…
Not sure why Ní Riada had her coat on in the sound check.
Is it very cold in the Virgin Media One studio?
Perhaps Pat Kenny insists on a cool temperature to keep everyone awake, like David Letterman used to?
Can someone help Cathal?
He must be delighted at being able to stay up this late, all the same.
We’re starting.
Some things to look out for…
How will Michael D Higgins cope with what might amount to a five-way attack from the other candidates – and will the other hopefuls join Casey in taking the gloves off to take on the incumbent?
Can Gavin Duffy bring his years of experience in media training to bear and make some kind of breakthrough with voters?
Will Sean Gallagher be able to convince the voters who backed him seven years ago to do so again?
Will Liadh Ní Riada be able to get her message across and up her poll ratings to enough of a degree to justify Sinn Féin’s decision to enter a candidate?
Will Joan Freeman, who has pitched herself as the mental health candidate, manage to come up with a strategy to ensure that that resonates with voters?
And to what degree will Peter Casey double down on his much-criticised comments about Travellers?
Peter Casey begins with his one minute pitch, focusing on the Irish diaspora around he world.
Sean Gallagher says that if people want a departure from the last seven years they should vote for him. He mentions the word ‘energy’ twice.
Liadh Ní Riada says she wants to challenge the establishment and the ‘cosy consensus’. She wants to be an outspoken president.
Joan Freeman says voters have been told there’s only one possible outcome – that Michael D Higgins will be reelected. The government didn’t want an election, but it’s time to smash the status quo, she says.
Gavin Duffy begins his pitch in Irish. By being ambitious for Ireland there is no barrier to what we can achieve, he says.
Michael D Higgins, going last, says he hopes that together we can help Ireland achieve its potential as a real republic. He hopes to spark conversation and change and to speak with authenticity at home and abroad.
Kenny moving on to the Traveller question now, turning to Casey.
The businessman says he hasn’t backed down from his controversial comments as Ireland is now a “melting pot”, and one group shouldn’t be chosen as “special” and granted ethnicity (Traveller ethnicity was recognised rather than granted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2017).
“You can’t please all of the people all of the time” Casey says, when Kenny points out that Travellers wouldn’t want him as president.
Casey talks at length about the row over Council-built houses in Tipperary.
Duffy and Freeman both criticising Casey once again for his comments – but Freeman says the topic shouldn’t dominate tonight’s debate.
Here’s what the set looks like, by the way…
How many of you would actually like to have a Traveller encampment next door, Kenny asks?
Higgins says he has a halting site near his house and that he has no problem with it.
Casey chips in and says that Higgins objected to a halting site in a planning objection in 1968.
Higgins says it’s an absolute untruth.
Asked the same question, Duffy says he has lived near halting sites.
Freeman and Ní Riada say they would have no problem with a halting site nearby. Gallagher concurs.
Casey, to a smattering of applause, says the rest of the candidates are being disingenuous.
Gallagher accuses Casey of being racist, again to applause.
The debate moves on.
We’re on familiar old ground now… Higgins and Gallagher coming in for criticism for not taking part in Monday’s debate.
Ní Riada, again using a familiar line, asks Gallagher where he has been for the last seven years.
Gallagher begins his answer by taking us back to the aftermath of the 2011 race – he’s already been accused of ‘living in 2011′ by Duffy – but Freeman cuts him off, and has another go at him for skipping Monday’s outing.
We’re on an actual commercial break now… A quick check of the Twitter machine tells us Casey’s “giving chocolate to a diabetic” remark is getting a bit of reaction out there.
Casey, so far, has been unrepentant about his comments – and going by applause there are plenty in the audience who like what they’re hearing from him.
Elsewhere on the Twitter machine:
Freeman going on the attack against Higgins now – pouring scorn on the President’s contention that he’s an independent.
Higgins is being backed by Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil she points out.
“I’m a real independent.”
Higgins chimes in, pointing out that the Social Democrats and others also back him.
Decent move turning the criticism around – he’s basically pointing out that most of the parties in the Dáil think he’s the man for the job.
Ní Riada bringing out another familiar argument – saying Higgins has been remiss in not addressing the Oireachtas during his seven year term.
The Sinn Féin candidate brought this up in Saturday’s radio debate too saying she felt there has been “a failure to address the Houses” by the current president, adding that she would exercise this right more frequently.
Higgins defended not doing so during his seven years, arguing that any such address would require government approval.
Confused about the whole thing? Handily, we’ve already done a FactCheck…
Kenny gets an unexpected jab in now – calling Duffy “kind of the posh boy” of the campaign because of his association with hunting groups.
Another commercial break.
While we’re watching the lovely commercials, you may like to read another wonderful FactCheck about whether or not the taxpayer funds the President’s dog-grooming bills.
Casey brought this accusation up in previous debates, prompting a Higgins spokesperson to send a rebuttal in to the RTÉ TV debate on Monday (which Higgins did not attend).
We’re back, and we’ve our first question from the audience about how the presidential candidates would help solve the housing crisis.
Peter Casey says the president can use their position as “influencer in chief” to help bring about change, while Joan Freeman outlines the depth of the crisis before saying its the president’s duty to highlight the issue and inspire charities to help.
Gallagher says the honest answer is the president can do little about housing, but that the president can speak for the people about the seriousness of the issue.
Ní Riada says she would address the Houses of Oireachtas on the issue.
Duffy, answering the question, insists on bringing up the sale of AIB and says the government needs to hold off on the sale.
Casey points out “as president you can’t do that”.
Duffy says he knows, but he’s determined to speak about it to raise the issue.
On the question about homelessness, Higgins says he’s been raising the issue in speeches several times in recent years.
We need a debate on whether shelter is a basic right, he says.
Asked, by show of hands, who was in favour of water charges – Casey, Gallagher and Duffy say they were.
Higgins says that as an incumbent President he wasn’t – and isn’t – allowed have a public view.
You may recall Higgins came in for attack several times at the height of the water charges protests in 2014.
Peter Casey going on attack again over the President’s decision to take a jet to Belfast for an engagement and have a car meet him there.
Higgins says the travel arrangement was made due to security concerns.
The President making a rare direct attack on another candidate now – saying that Casey seems to have a “fantasy list” of charges against him.
It’s part of a long (inevitable) row over expenses and salary.
Applause for Higgins after Casey chimes in with another claim.
“Just add it to the list,” he says.
Another question from the audience here now – how would the candidates get on with the government of the day in the next seven years?
Peter Casey agrees with Pat Kenny’s suggestion that he would “toe the line”, while Liadh Ní Riada says she would be non-partisan and represent the people.
This question isn’t providing much by way of fireworks so far.
Answering the same question Freeman says there are four millionaires standing next to her (she’s including Higgins as well as the four Dragons), and takes issue with the criticism she’s received to date over how she funds her campaign.
Duffy tells the audience questioner voters “don’t need to lose sleep” over how he’d get on with governments as president.
Gallagher says the President needs to work with the government of the day, and stresses he wants to represent Irish people across the whole island.
Higgins points out that he resigned from Labour when he took office. “You don’t turn yourself into a blank page” when you become president, he adds.
The last question is, essentially … Is this whole debate a waste of time considering Michael D Higgins is on course to romp home?
Duffy says he had been assured by an associate of Gallagher that the 2011 hopeful wasn’t entering the race and adds that Casey’s candidacy was a total surprise to him.
He concedes it is a little odd that three personalities from Dragon’s Den are in the race.
Casey an Gallagher both defend their decisions to enter the race too.
Freeman, by the way, also defended the decision to enter – pointing out that she was the only person who’d had to fund their campaign with a loan.
Ní Riada also defends Sinn Féin’s decision to enter the race before Duffy interrupts and accuses Michael D Higgins of staying too long in the role.
We’re about to wrap up.
Higgins making the case for keeping him on in the Áras, insisting he’s the best man for the job as we proceed with the decade of centenaries.
And we’re out.
No matter who you vote for, make sure you exercise your vote on 26 October, Pat says.
I’m sure I probably won’t be alone if I suggest we didn’t learn anything particularly new in that debate?
*Checks Twitter*
Yep, that seems about right.
We’ll leave it there so.
Oh, but don’t forget you can rate the candidates here.
The next debate takes place on Prime Time next Tuesday 23 October.
Goodnight!
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Insult him all you will,but he’s a fine example of a businessman who doesn’t use political sway to amass his fortune unlike other people ,he isn’t a tax exile . Previous to ryanair it wasn’t possible to go on short breaks to exciting cities due to cost , the man is a legend and should be treated as such.
Say what you like about ryanair,but we,re after booking flights to manchester for 2 adults and two kids with ryanair for €160,same flights we,re coming in at over €500,and thus out of our budget,at union infested dinosaur aer lingus!
belive hes doing a new calendar next year of him kissing puppies. .
Whoa! Slow down, this is all too much too fast!!..
What will they have next, a toilet attendant?
A blackinthejax at 40,000 feet :)
They still won’t let you check in online more than 7 days in advance unless you pay extra for an allocated seat though – they’ll always find some new way of trying to wring more money out of people….
I don’t mind flying with Ryanair because they are so cheap and it’s your own fault if you end paying more than you should but one thing I hate about flying with any airline is young kids and babies with modern patents believing that there kids should be allowed express themselves with no consideration to other passengers so I hope this move by Ryanair won’t turn there planes into crèches and if does I hope they make the back or front of the plane family sections so the rest of us can have some peace..
Poor you! Just remember, of you are this annoying at this stage of your life, think about how annoying you probably were when you were a baby! You’re not the most important person in the world therefore don’t bitch about people taking kids on holidays. They also deserve down time.
My problems not really with kids it’s with rubbish parents who think the kids can do what they want.. Not all parents but a lot of them..
Irishoversea-Because you were never a baby or even cried! Get over yourself you clown!
I’m guessing your one of the parents I’m on about who can’t control your kids..
I am a frequent flyer and I have no idea what you are talking about. Irish kids are probably the best behaved in the world and so are their parents. In case a baby screams the parents usually apologise to the people around even I think there is no need for it. What are they supposed to do: smother the infant?
Maybe Ryanair will offer a crèche facility in the hold of the plane, this will resolve all of our problems.
Yes Irish kids are best in the world it’s foreign kids I have problem with.. Coming to our country taking our plane seats making a load of noise..
Also babies crying I can get over it’s the kids who can be controlled or should be but are not. I don’t see why planes can’t have family sections that’s all..
There was a 2 year old behind me on the flight home today. She was talking singing shouting she had everyone in stitches. They re kids that’s what kids do.
Irishoverseas, foreign kids and their parents get up your nose? Why? I thought you are overseas? Shouldn’t you be used to it then?
Because as you pointed out yourself Irish kids are the best in the world and foreign kids compared to our angels are awful..
That would probably be preferable to be honest!
Don’t cry
I have been a regular customer of Ryanair for +10 years. Because of Ryanair I was able to afford almost monthly trips to visit my elderly parents. It’s down to them that I can be a peace with their loss knowing that I did all that I could and spent all the time I could with them while they were alive and needed me. I have heard the criticisms over the years but can honestly say I have never had a problem either with the airline or the staff. If you make youself aware of the rules and stick to them, all will be fine. In fact I regret the recent changes which have resulted in higher fares (everything has a price).
I have also flown Aer Lingus and can attest to the fact that they are as much a “budget – no frills airline” as Ryanair but this is rarely reflected in the fare.
If only Ryanair flew into Heathrow.
Be happy they don’t. It’s a hellhole. If you want world hub connections then go via Schipol – and avoid UK APD at the same time.
Sure bar you pay for Heathrow Express you’ll be in central London as quick from any airport.
In fairness, Gatwick is only a 45 minute train from St. Pancras International. Heathrow isn’t much closer!
Gatwick isn’t bad actually.
I wonder will they let me use the same microwave to heat the hot food they give me on board?
I agree with the commentors above regarding the low fuel issue. I watched the Channel 4 Despatches episode and was so disgusted with the sensational, biased reporting that I complained to Channel 4. Ryanair has an unmatched safety record. All airlines have emergency landing due to poor weather or other unforeseen circumstances. I find Michael O’Leary’s manner unnecessarily abrasive at times BUT I can’t fault his business acumen or his company
That still doesn’t do anything about the screaming baby problem..
have you tried a soother.
I think irishoversea might need one..
I think you needed condoms
Charm offensive…will it work?…time will tell…at least he’s trying not to insult us…:-)..
I hope they put all the kids together e.g a family/kid zone
Hope he does not decide to reduce the amount of fuel onboard to compensate, three emergency landings was enough.
Experience all three did you? You poor thing!
Out of however many landings they have ever performed, only 3 have made an emergency landing because of fuel. That has to be the best safety record in Europe! Look at EI or BA and see how many emergency landings they made because of low fuel in a holding pattern!
Flew with Ryanair to Murcia a number of years ago, when infants were still free. Asked for the connecting belt to attach my son to my belt. Was being stalled a bit, only to be informed that there wasn’t one on the flight, even though they knew that we were coming. Their blatant disregard for my sons safety means we will never fly with them as a family again. And now they’re child friendly? I’ll believe it when I see it.
but you wont see it if your not intending to fly with them again . ;-)
@Barry. My monacle just fell into my earl grey upon reading your comment, I am truly horrified.
I certainly don’t think it is very appropriate to fly with an airline that is so frivolous with fuel. I certainly think this issue has affected ryanair and is the reason for all these radical changes.
Rachel
Rachel,
do you honestly think that the IAA and other aviation regulators would let them fly with a dangerous low level of fuel?
I take it you work for Aer Lingus or one of their competitors.
Now, Now Brian, no need to be abrupt. I don’t work for an airline Brian. I would not consider emergency landings due to lack of fuel to be very safe and this has certainly been the case with ryanair.
Rachel
Rachel, silly silly Rachel, guess who diverted to Shannon a couple of weeks ago due to low on fuel and a hold at Dublin, your beloved Aer Lingus, it happens to all airlines, they dont have an endless supply of fuel, I guess if you actually read and understood the report you would see that the Ryanair planes had plenty of fuel on board and that numerous different airlines all had fuel emergencies at the same time due to weather and Spanish ATC. But dont let the facts get in the way of your ignorance
@ Rachel. That’s crap. If you knew your facts you would know what happened was due to reasons beyond crew control. FR have a fantastic safety record and do not take any risks with fuel or safety, plus aviation authorities would take a dim view if they did.
No need to be patronising Aaron.
Don’t fly with them then. Sure you love wasting all your loverly dosh on AL
Rachel, please investigate the facts which are available online (google) before posting nonsense please.
Then maybe people wont be so patronising towards you.
You know that was all down to desperate weather at the time, there is only so many times you can circle around avoiding thunderstorms before you run out of fuel! That same day a flight from Chile made an emergency landing due to an engine failure (thanks to a, yeah you guessed it, lack of fuel!). That delayed the aircraft holding above Madrid even more. Ryanair done everything right that day in taking on the legal amount of extra fuel incase of delays, the weather, poor Spanish ATC & the LAN AIrlines emergency were hardly Ryanairs fault!
Can’t Fault Ryanair, Recent trip to Almeria, was flawless, comfortable, staff very pleasant, no complaints whatsoever.
One suggestion, as a promotional exercise, Ryanair should record remarks from regular Ryanair users to get the truth behind this airline, I bet all the begrudgers will be Surprised!
Guess we’ll have to find something else to get riled up about now that Ryanair are off the list. Don’t think it will be too hard…..
Wizz air.
I assume they’ll heat the bottle for free, but if there’s anything in the bottle, there will be a substatial handling charge per ml etc?
i read they will also allow cots to be stored in overhead bins thats means there will be less storage for the person who just brings on their case….so the passenger will have to put case in the hold so more money and baby changing facility read toilet or the tray that drops down for ur cuppa
where did you hear that ?
They allow for 90 pieces of carry on luggage, and any overflow is checked at the gate free of charge. So your point is invalid
Indeed Stephen Furlong… How interesting of you to declare there’s a subset of consumers who avoid Ryanair ‘for no reason’
“Anyone who thinks Ryanair flights are some sort of bastion of sanctity where you can contemplate your navel is wrong. We already bombard you with as many in-flight announcements and trolleys as we can. Anyone who looks like they’re sleeping, we wake them up to sell them things.” Micheal O’Leary
I can see myself running right out to hand money over to what must truly be an incompetent stockbroker encouraging investment in an airline industry and market he knows ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about.
So children who used to fly free will now fly at a reduced adults’ fee. Heat bottles but at what cost ? I have never had reason to think of Ryanair in a good light. This window dressing makes me even more suspect.
How about reducing the charge for needing to get your boarding pass printed at their desk ?
I used to fly Ryanair but got fed up of the many many extra charges and also of their ill chosen airports at which they land.
As for kids on board. Children free flights would be great. I love kids but a screaming child in an enclosed space is not my idea of enjoying a flight. Some kids scream so let them all have their own flights with their parents.
I bet the insulted current child brigade will take umbrage at that.
Someone has no idea of how to play the ‘Ryanair game’
Well done Michael O Leary!
Another free publicity stunt!
You are a genius!
Stop it now…it isn’t funny any more….Ryan-air …nice and cuddly …….I must have fallen through the magic mirror.
Ryanair have a new problem. People not seating in the right seats. Two of my last three flights, someone has been sitting in my seat.
I don’t make an issue of it, go to the middle of the plane tell the flight attendant and ask to seat at the emergency exit if it’s free, more leg room.
But seriously is it that people don’t know and being stupid that it allocated seating now. I
Took like 3.35 Ryanair flight from Manchester to Dublin today. Been doing so for the last year and number of times a year and today was the first time it was packed. Normally it’s under half empty. Yes lots of holidays. But a huge swing from nearly empty to packed full.
Pity the fees for allocated seating were not discounted before now, we paid €140 for our flights both ways just to make sure out young children were seated beside us, ridiculous.
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