Two hit out at exclusion from RTÉ election debate

Two election candidates for the European Parliament Midlands North West constituency have hit out at their omission from the planned RTÉ debate on Monday night.

Today, RTÉ confirmed eight participants in the debate to take place as part of the Upfront with Katie Hannon debate on Monday night.

Former RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly criticised what he said was his exclusion from the debate.

He said he believed it was contrary to guidance issued by Coimisiún na Meán.

He said he made RTÉ aware of the clear evidence of five successive opinion polls by professional  research companies.

“I suggested they meet with my director of elections to review such evidence before finalising their decision on the TV debate structure. RTÉ has yet to accept the invitation to attend such a meeting.

"Today I intend to raise this very significant discrepancy in the interpretation of the guidelines set down by Coimisiún na Meán with the director general of RTÉ, the chairperson of the board and the Minister for Communications.”

Social Democrats candidate Rory Hearne said: “I am so disappointed to be excluded from these crucial debates. It is bad enough that elected politicians are saying that MEPs can't do anything about the housing crisis or that other MEP candidates are avoiding the housing crisis when it is the most important issue affecting the country right now, but now to exclude me from the debate when I am the one candidate putting housing central to my campaign is just ridiculous.

"I am an expert on housing. I have campaigned on the issue for several years. I even wrote a book of solutions to the housing crisis. I wanted the opportunity to talk about these solutions and give the public hope that we can address the housing crisis from Europe but now I won't get that opportunity."

“Also, the criteria used by RTÉ to choose candidates should be revised. One of the criteria is based on diversity of views. No other candidate in the European elections is putting housing central to their campaign. You can argue that means I meet that criteria.

"The RTÉ criteria clearly favours the establishment. For example, candidates from each of the three government parties are being represented in every single television debate. By contrast, only one political party, from the three Dáil opposition parties with speaking rights, features in each debate. I am calling on RTÉ to revise their decision and include me in the debate on Monday night in the interest of democracy."

RTÉ has published its criteria for selecting candidates for the debate here