Thread by @lewis_goodall

RTE #PrimeTime debate night. #ge2020

.@MaryLouMcDonald arrives.

Real conundrum for the other two as to how to treat her. They need to damage her prospects but if they attack her too much in unison, just plays to inevitable line that they’re the establishment looking to undermine the change...#GE2020

Excitement mounting backstage, 40 mins or so to air...

Just cannot beat the excitement of a big live political tv event. I’m not even involved and can feel the adrenaline! #ge2020 #rtept

A few people asking me if you can watch the debate in the UK, just asked RTE colleagues here, they said if you download the RTE player app you should be able to.

Varadkar: “Bear in mind that not all change is for the better. Britain voted for change and they got Brexit. America voted for change and they got Trump.” #GE2020 #RTEDebate

.@MichealMartinTD: “we don’t believe in collapsing governments, that’s what Sinn Fein did for three years in Northern Ireland.”

Varadkar says he’ll never work with SF: “I’m concerned about their past and their present and their future.”

McDonald: “if you’ve ever heard a clarion call of desperation it’s that...they want everything their own way. They want to ensure the status quo remains intact.” #rtept

Both Varadkar and Martin going for SF and McDonald in a big way, as predicted.

And likewise, as predicted, McDonald is using it to paint them as one and the same and she as the anti-establishment insurgent.

If she keeps up like this, she’s going to win this debate. #rtept

Under repeated questioning Mary Lou McDonald declines to personally endorse the Special Criminal Courts: “I believe in the courts”, she says again and again. #rtetp

This is sparky. #rtept

Sinn Féin’s rise being felt across this debate. Martin in particular emphasising role of the state and more centre left elements of FF’s history.

Whatever happens with govt formation, possible SF drags Irish politics to the left, which almost never happens. #rtept

McDonald: “FF is the party of property developers and FG is the party of landlords.” #rtept

Varadkar challenges McDonald about SF’s record in Northern Ireland: “how many are homeless in Northern Ireland? 20000”

McDonald: “We’ve endured a decade of Tory austerity. How about you challenge Boris Johnson and the British govt about that?”

#rtept

Of course, by comparison to the rest of the UK, austerity in NI is, well more modest. Partly thanks to Theresa May...

Hearing the leaders in the Irish debate talk about GP charges of £50-80 a pop...seems such an alien world. #rtept

Apart from the odd passing reference and Varadkar doing his best to crowbar it in, Brexit hasn’t got a mention. It’s just not an issue #ge2020. Had it been three months ago, would have been a different story. Timing of withdrawal worked for Johnson and not for Varadkar. #rtept

Getting very testy in closing third. McDonald to Martin: “you’re going to mansplain tax policy to me are you?”

Who won?

McDonald started well, as expected was vulnerable on detail of policy. Other two were pretty relentless attacking her.

That allowed her to do exactly what she wanted- emphasise the old duopoly and establishment talking points.

No game changer for Varadkar.

Martin still on course to be the next Taoiseach.

Overall though, as an outsider, the thing which struck me most was the tone/quality of the debate: Detailed, substantive and focussed on policy. Irish politics and discourse so much further behind the post-truth nightmare by comparison to British and American politics. #GE2020