Thread by @Ocionnaith

I'll be covering latest #EE19 Dublin constituency
hustings, starting shortly. @IrishTimes poll standings today:
* Frances Fitzgerald, FG, 22%
* Barry Andrews, FF, 18
* Lynn Boylan, SF, 13
* Clare Daly, I4C, 10
* Ciaran Cuffe, Greens, 9
* Alex White, Lab, 8
* Mark Durkan, FG, 7

Those attending the Association of European Journalists hustings are Ms Boylan, Mr White, Mr Cuffe, Mr Andrews, Ms Daly and Ms Fitzgerald. #EE19 - MC Richard Moore jokes "all the heavy hitters" are here.

Clare Daly is first up to speak, saying she is an "unusual" candidate as most people who want to be MEPs are at "either the beginning or end of their careers".

Cue Alex White looking around slowly and faux dramatically. #EE19

Ms Daly also says Brexit and Trump are a consequence of the rise of the far right, that EU is becoming more militarised and that "the ideals of the EU, which I support" are under threat by the EU itself. #EE19

Lynn Boylan is next to speak. She says she is running on environmentalism, gender equality and also says "the EU is in crisis". She says racism is on the rise, but that left wing parties are preventing it as they are not dismissing Trump etc as simply to do with ignorance. #EE19

Ciaran Cuffe now speaking, he says he is an example of trans-national co-operation, and stresses how climate change is about housing, immigration and planning as much as climate. "I want to be the Green voice for Dublin," he says. #EE19

Ms Fitzgerald now speaking, she begins by responding to today's poll, saying "not a vote has been cast yet". She praises FG's response to Brexit, says Dublin must be made "a liveable city", says she would welcome funding on housing from EU, and stresses equality issues. #EE19

Mr White now speaking, says people of the left - "and I am of the left" - need to challenge the EU but also stand up for it, and says there is a pressing need to support investigative journalism, and online, print and broadcast journalism. #EE19

Mr Andrews - described by moderator Eileen Dunne as "FF royalty" - is now speaking, he says these elections are first serious ones since Brexit and that Ireland must follow up on "the good work of our diplomats" by sending "our strongest". He says must "broaden" debate. #EE19

Q&A begins, with Lynn Boylan being asked to explain SF's refusal to take up its seats in Westminster due to Brexit. She says "how is it working out for Scotland, not very well" and says doong so will "scatter the horses". #EE19

Alex White and Ciaran Cuffe now talking about the differences between EU bodies. Cuffe says there is "this huge disconnect between what goes on in Brussels and Strasbourg and what goes on in people's lives", says plenary Oireachtas meetings would be useful. #EE19

Clare Daly says there is a facility for MEPs to attend Oireachtas committee meetings. #EE19

One (very) experienced journalist has asked how to make the EU "sexy", then suggests maybe sending one of the Healy Raes.

He was talking about getting coverage in the papers to combat hard right quotable politicians, but either way, I think you have a fan @MHealyRae #EE19

Barry Andrews is concluding the debate by saying "as they say, everything has already been said, but not yet by everybody".

Ba-bum-tish!

#EE19