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Louise Zayed
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3428
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Kevin Shore
Press Officer
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publicity@tv3.ie
TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Wednesday 8th July, 2015.
Fianna Fáil TD rules out going into coalition with Fine Gael after the next general election.
Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen admits he wouldn’t be a part of a government that had Fine Gael as the lead party, on ‘The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne’ in Offaly airing tonight (8th July) on TV3.
Offaly local, Amanda Coughlin holds government to account over cuts to respite care services.
There’s 20 down and 20 to go now as ‘The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne’ is half way through its tour of all 40 constituencies.
‘The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne’ focusing on the Offaly Constituency will air tonight 8th July from 10pm – 12am on TV3.
Interviews with Vincent Browne are available on request.
Click here to view Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen clip.
Click here to view Amanda Coughlin clip.
TV3’s The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne is half way through its tour of all 40 constituencies where local TDs and constituents are encouraged to join in and debate on a number of topics of local and national importance. Monday night’s (6th July) recording in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Offaly saw the debate reach its 20th constituency meaning there are 20 more to go before concluding its tour of the country.
The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne has attracted approximately 500 people in almost every constituency so far, including last Monday’s debate in Offaly which will air tonight (8th July) from 10pm – 12am on TV3. The 20 constituencies that have been covered so far include: Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork North West, Donegal, Dublin Mid-West, Dublin North West, Dublin Rathdown, Dublin South, Galway East, Galway West, Kerry, Kildare North, Laois, Limerick, Meath East, Meath West, Offaly, Sligo-Leitrim, Waterford and Wicklow.
Local TD’s, Barry Cowan (Fianna Fáil) and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Fine Gael), took part in the heated debate in Offaly, which saw some of the key burning issues raised by the local people including Offaly local, Amanda Coughlin, who holds government to account over cuts to respite care services.
Speaking directly to Fine Gael TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Amanda Coughlin says: “My son is in a wheelchair. He can’t defend himself. There is no respite services in this county for my son. He doesn’t qualify because he doesn’t have an intellectual disability. He has many other problems and many other disabilities but doesn’t qualify. So there is no services for the children in this county with intellectual disabilities.”
In response to this statement Marcella Corcoran Kennedy says: “We have to figure out what’s going on here. We have to try and understand it and then we have to try and explain why we do things even if people don’t agree with them and people won’t agree with a lot of what we’re doing but we’re doing it with a good heart to try and restore our economy and we’re doing that. We’ve stabilised the economy now. We’re back into growth and we’re creating jobs and that’s where we wanted to go.”
Later in the programme, Vincent Browne asks Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen if there are there any circumstances in which he would support Fianna Fáil going into Government with Fine Gael in the next election, with Fianna Fail being the minority party, to which Barry Cowen replies with a firm “No.” Although Barry states that: “If Fianna Fáil was the majority party in any proposed government, I would consider what’s on the table in relation to the implementation of our policy thereafter.”
Barry Cowan adds: “I would refuse to be part of a government that had Fine Gael as the lead party.
‘The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne’ focusing on the Offaly Constituency will air tonight 8th July from 10pm – 12am on TV3.
Images have been sent to your picture desks.
Click here for a list of upcoming debates in your area.
ENDS
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