Labour have brushed off suggestions of a debate between Pat Rabitte and Michael McDowell saying the Tainiste's party is too small to merit a face off with Labour.

RTÉ has written to the parties proposing a six-way leaders' debate before a live studio audience, plus two further debates - one between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the alternative taoiseach, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, and the other between the Tánaiste and the alternative tánaiste, Pat Rabbitte.

According to Labour the PDs are a niche party that will contest only a limited number of seats while the Labour Party will contest every constituency.

"We are simply not prepared to accept that the Labour Party or its leader should be relegated to some political second division with the Progressive Democrats."

Ouch!

RTE has confirmed that 266,000 people watched the televised address by Pat Rabbitte to the Labour Party Conference in the Helix on Saturday last.

This represents an 18.1% audience share and is one of the largest viewing levels ever recorded for a conference address.

This second episode of Frank's Luntz's Week in Politics Special "Frank Opinion" was not as fascinating as the previous one.

Perhaps it is familiarity with the process or the lack of personal focus this time round but the programme was not as informative or as entertaining as the last one.

There was nothing new in the programme, people are unhappy with the health service and crime, don't credit the government for prosperity and seem tired of Bertie but unsure of the alternatives.

The Opposition get criticised for lack of proposals and are perceived as negative on the issues while the government are seen as reacting to crises and not leading.

But did we really need Frank Luntz to tell us all that? One hopes the next episode will be a return to form.

Don't forget Frank Luntz's Frank Opinion programme tonight which is the second of the Week in Politics special programmes which feature the US analyst and his look at the upcoming election is on RTE1 at 10.20pm.

Click here to watch RTE's first programme which featured US political opinion specialist Dr Frank Luntz before the Christmas going through the party leaders with undecided voters.

This was the first in a series of specials for 'The week in politics' featuring Dr Luntz which continue with tonight's programme in the run up to this year's general election.

You can listen to all the Irish radio stations, national and local, here on Eirefm.

Was just listening to BBC Radio 4. They are all here from my local Mid West Radio to RTE, Today Fm etc.

Very good site, minimal fuss, very very east to use. Check it out.

Click here to watch RTE's 'The week in politics' special entitled Frank Opinion which featured US political opinion specialist Dr Frank Luntz.

This was the first in a series of specials for 'The week in politics' featuring Dr Luntz and the undecided voters of Ireland in the run up to this year's general election.


You can read more about his programme here in an earlier post.