TV3 PROPOSES LEADERS ELECTION DEBATE

TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Monday 24th January 2011 

• TV3 proposes 3-Way leaders election debate

• Parties welcome TV3 initiative

• Debate to give electorate first opportunity to decide who will govern the country

TV3 has held discussions over the past year with each of the three big political parties with the intention of staging a major national television debate in advance of the general election.

All parties have welcomed TV3’s consultation process and contributed to the formation of the broadcaster’s plans. The channel has proposed a formal debate early in the General Election campaign.

The participants would be the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party with other parties facilitated with airtime during the campaign on Tonight with Vincent Browne. TV3 has based its proposal on Oireachtas rules around speaking rights in the Dail. The debate would be conducted within strict guidelines to ensure fairness, objectivity and impartiality. These will be decided with party representatives.

Director of election coverage Bob Hughes said: “TV3 wants to give the leaders of the three main parties an opportunity to debate the most serious issues affecting this country in a fair and impartial forum. We believe it is in the national interest that viewers should be fully informed about party policies during the election campaign and form a judgment on our potential future Taoisigh. This debate will fulfill that aim.”

TV3 will be announcing its detailed election plans later in the week.

ENDS

For further information & Interviews:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+353 1 419 3430
+353 87 7800 737
Maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie