Aontú court challenge to RTE's Leader Debate decision

Aontú has notified the High Court this morning of it's intention to make an application for an injunction later today in relation to the exclusion of the party from the RTE Leaders’ debate which is due tio air this evening.

Party leader Peadar Toibin said: "We believe that election debates should be fair and open to facilitate citizens in making an informed  decision on policy and party when casting their vote.

"It makes no sense to exclude one of the eight national parties with Dáil representation from the debate. The recent EU elections saw RTE facilitate debates with eight and nine candidates. One of the ctiteria for inclusion in those debates was that the participant was a TD elected to the Dáil. The changed criteria for inclusion is arbitrary and unfair in our view.

"It has been argued by RTE that a registered group of independents and a party located solely in Tipperary are comparable to Aontú and this is the reason of our exclusion. We have 26 candidates, have already six elected reps, 2,000 members and have gained just under 35,000 votes to date. There is no comparison between Aontú and these other organisations. 

"If this exclusion stands then any new political party such as Aontú will never be given a chance to challenge the political establishment in live leaders’ debate. This is an incumbents paradise. It protects the establishment incumbent parties from challenge."

Deputy Toibin said Aontú received a higher vote than the Soc Dems and People Before Profit in the recent by-elections and are just 1 TD behind the Soc Dems in Dáil numbers but those two political parties will allowed participate by RTÉ.

"We are calling on RTE at this late stage, to talk to us, to achieve a fair solution."

More to follow...