Ten party leaders to take part in RTÉ's 'largest-ever' election debate

Ten party leaders are to take part in the first televised leaders’ debate of the election campaign on Monday evening.

RTÉ will host the debate from 9.35pm between Fine Gael's Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil leader Martin, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett, Independent Ireland’s Michael Collins, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, and Joan Collins of Right to Change.

The Social Democrats’ deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan is to step in for leader Holly Cairns, who is due to give birth this week.

Journalist Katie Hannon drew names randomly to decide which podiums the leaders would use in the studio. RTÉ said the debate between the 10 party leaders would be the "largest-ever" to take place on Irish television.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Harris said: “There’s not nearly enough focus being paid in this election debate to the economy. I personally think there should be a debate scheduled on the economy.

“There’s lots of discussions about how to spend money, not nearly enough discussion in relation to the economy.”

Asked whether Fine Gael was trying to give out policies in their manifesto “for everyone in the audience”, Mr Harris said “not at all”.

The debate is taking place in the second week of a short, three-week general election campaign.

More than 680 general election candidates are running for the Dáil across the State’s 43 constituencies.

The deadline for nominations passed at the weekend and returning officers have now published the final list of candidates in each area.

All parties bar Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have published their general election manifestos, making pledges on housing, childcare and on how to spend the €14 billion Apple tax money.