Tag Archives: Presidential debate

Last night.

On the Virgin Media One presidential debate hosted by Pat Kenny…

Mr Kenny asked all of the candidates who was in favour of water charges – asking those in favour of them to put their hands up.

Former Dragons’ Den stars Peter Casey, Seán Gallagher and Gavin Duffy all indicated they were in favour of water charges, while Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada said she wasn’t.

Mr Kenny then turned to incumbent Michael D Higgins and they had this exchange:

Kenny: “And Michael D? As a socialist?”

Higgins: “I was an incumbent President that had to look at the legislation in front of me, in terms of its constitutionality.”

Kenny: “No, but the point is, you, personally, as a socialist, are you in favour of water charges?”

Higgins: “I’m not entitled to have an opinion as president…”

Kenny: “You’re entitled, as a campaigner, to have an opinion.”

Higgins: “…in relation to a matter that is  coming before me that will require, for example, me to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to its constitutionality.”

Mr Kenny then attempted to move on and ask another question but Senator Joan Freeman reminded him that he didn’t ask her for her opinion on water charges.

She said she wasn’t in favour but she did pay her water charges bill.

Watch back in full here

Earlier: How Was It For You?

Last night.

During the first live TV presidential debate on RTÉ One’s Claire Byrne Live.

Did you stay up?

Did you stay awake?

Bunty Twuntington-McFuff, real name Norma Burke, disrupted the debate as former Dragon’s Den star and millionaire Peter Casey was talking about how money really isn’t an issue for him – regardless of the cost of his presidential bid.

It wasn’t clear what was said by Ms Burke, who later tweeted:

President Michael D Higgins said he couldn’t attend the debate due to prior presidential engagements while former Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher didn’t attend because Mr Higgins didn’t attend.

Along with Mr Casey, former Dragon’s Den star Gavin Duffy, Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada, and Senator Joan Freeman attended.

It can be watched in full here.

In RTÉ Radio One studio this afternoon

This afternoon.

On RTÉ Radio One’s News at One.

Presidential hopefuls Gavin Duffy, Peter Casey, Senator Joan Freeman and Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada took part in a debate chaired by Áine Lawlor.

As a final question, Ms Lawlor asked each candidate why they chose to run for president – giving each of them 30 seconds to answer.

Peter Casey said:

“Going around Donegal, talking to the schools in Donegal, I asked them, I said ‘hands up who’s leaving Donegal when you get your Leaving Cert? Every hand in the room went up and I said how many of you see yourselves living in Donegal in ten years’ time. And only about two or three hands went up. That was really the moment that made me think: now we have to do something to stop the outflow of people from rural Ireland.”

Gavin Duffy said:

“It is a huge challenge to take on. But over the last two years, I was researching for a book, called The Ten Amendments: The Constitution, What Needs to Change. I don’t think people living in Ireland realise how much our society is changing. I welcome the change, it’s a very open and inclusive society. But I do think come the foundational events commemorations of 2021 and 2022, we need to have a dialogue and a discussion about what type of society, a more compassionate society we’d have at the start of the second 100 years of our freedom.”

Joan Freeman said:

“We’ve spent the last seven years focusing on building our economy but we have neglected the actual people of our country and I think we now need to turn the lens of the office, of the president, onto the people of our country and build up that heart and compassion for all.”

Liadh Ní Riada said:

“It was my decision because I think we’re at that time in our history where we can shape a new Ireland. I’m young, I’m energetic, I’m dynamic, I have the credentials and I want to lead the country into a new Ireland for a new president and that’s where I’m at. Because look, we can’t let history shape the next seven years we have to create our own and we certainly have the opportunity to make it a more inclusive and caring Ireland and we cannot afford to carry on having such poverty. We need to address all those things from a governmental point of view as well, not just community.”

Meanwhile…

Yikes.

Earlier: They’re Off

Sam Boal/Rollingnews