Limerick mayoral candidate says he won’t take part in full RTÉ debate branding it ‘a charade’

Limerick mayor candidate John Moran said he will not take part in next Monday’s mayoral election debate on RTÉ’s Upfront with Katie Hannon.

The independent candidate shared his decision to withdraw as he was initially offered a place in the audience, and not on stage.

RTÉ's initial planned programme format included an on-stage panel of eight candidates who qualified for the debate under the RTÉ television debate criteria, with the remaining seven candidates, including John Moran, offered a place in the audience from where they could make a one minute election pitch to voters.

However, RTÉ today announced a review of the format: Monday night's programme will see the eight candidates who qualified under the RTÉ TV debate selection criteria participate in part one of the programme. The remaining seven candidates are now being invited to debate in part two of the programme.

John Moran said in a statement prior to RTÉ’s latest decision: "I am today informing the producers of Up Front with Katie Hannon that I am withdrawing my interest to participate in any panel for their upcoming charade debate. That shall remain my decision even if they do a late u-turn in the face of the outpouring of anger about my exclusion here in Limerick and beyond.”

After thanking those who have supported him so far, the candidate added he intends to concentrate “on what I enjoy most, meeting the people of Limerick to explain why I believe my experience makes me the best candidate for the role and explain what I want to do for them if elected on 7 June.”

Among the reasons that led him to the decision, John Moran said: “I have made numerous reasonable requests since their original selection decision and each has been rejected. Limerick has become used to being ignored up in Dublin. If nothing else, this sorry saga shows better than anything why having a strong independent mayor who can put Limerick first is so critical.

“It is ironic that the only successful time the producers of the show seem to have listened to me was when their researcher contacted me over a month ago to get my views on the mayoral role and ask would I be okay to travel to Dublin for the show. I made it clear at that time that it would be highly insulting to the people of Limerick if candidates and an audience of Limerick voters for the first mayoral election in Limerick had to travel to Dublin for a debate. At least I won that debate.

“I shall now instead sit in the audience and make my views during the only 60 seconds of uninterrupted time which they have offered me.

“I want to also express my particular appreciation to the other candidates who expressed their own dissatisfaction about RTÉ’s decision.”

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