The People's Debate with Vincent Browne was a topical debate TV3 television programme in Ireland. Presented by Vincent Browne, the two-hour-long broadcast occurred before a studio audience where audience members participated on the chosen subject(s). Initially airing on the first Wednesday of every month at 10 pm, in the months ahead of the 2016 general election it took to airing more regularly as it undertook a tour of all Dáil Éireann constituencies.
Origins The People's Debate was launched by TV3 on 12 February 2014. The programme was described as an "experiment in democracy television" featuring a "range of hard hitting, intelligent and probing topics" with "no boundaries as it deals with serious current affairs issues in Ireland from topical matters, political discussion, economics and the affairs of the nation."
The first transmission occurred on Wednesday 5 March 2014. The final show aired on 22 February 2016.
Chairman The programme was chaired by Vincent Browne, who also presents the four-times weekly Tonight with Vincent Browne.
Browne described the programme as "a new experiment in Irish television". He claimed: "This will be TV3's largest audience show to date with 150–200 people debating the important national issues of the day. There will be no panel of the usual important suspects – if the usual important suspects want to participate they will do so on the same basis as everyone else. This is democracy television."
List of episodes # Motion Broadcast date1 That the Fine Gael-Labour Government deserves the support of the Irish people 5 March 2014 2 That Irish women are not yet liberated 2 April 2014 3 That the Irish people should elect Eurosceptic candidates in the upcoming European elections 7 May 2014 4 That Ireland is homophobic 4 June 2014 5 That Budget 2015 should prioritise the relief of the squeezed middle income earners 1 October 2014
Tour of constituencies Browne toured the Dáil Éireann constituencies with the programme throughout 2015 and early 2016 (ahead of a general election), concluding with the constituencies of the four leaders of the parties with the largest representation in the 31st Dáil. The ruling party, Fine Gael, boycotted many of the early debates.
Constituency Sitting TDs1 Excuses offered by absentees Broadcast location Broadcast date Date recorded (if different)Wicklow , , , , Grand Hotel in Wicklow Wednesday, 14 January 2015 Saturday, 10 January 2015Clare , , , Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis Wednesday, 21 January 2015 Friday, 16 January 2015Cork North-West , , Charleville Park Hotel Wednesday, 28 January 2015 Friday, 23 January 20152Donegal , , , , Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny Wednesday, 4 February 2015 Friday, 30 January 20152Cavan–Monaghan , , , , Errigal Hotel in Cootehill Wednesday, 25 February 2015 Monday, 23 February 2015Dublin North-West , , The Regency Hotel, Swords Road Wednesday, 4 March 2015 Monday, 2 March 2015Sligo–Leitrim , , Perry promised until that morning then said he hadanother engagement; didn't reply to several attemptsat contact. Mcloughlin refused. The Clarion Hotel in Sligo Town Wednesday, 11 March 2015 Monday, 9 March 2015Meath West , The Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim Wednesday, 25 March 2015 Monday, 23 March 2015Dublin Mid-West , , , Red Cow Moran Hotel Wednesday, 1 April 2015 Monday, 30 March 2015Kildare North , , , Killashee House Hotel in Naas Wednesday, 15 April 2015 Monday, 13 April 2015Galway West , , , , Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill Wednesday, 22 April 2015 Monday, 20 April 2015Limerick County , , Rathkeale House Hotel Wednesday, 29 April 2015 Monday, 27 April 2015Meath East , , McEntee said she had an illness. Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells Wednesday, 13 May 2015 Monday, 11 May 2015Waterford , , , Deasy "couldn't be bothered" according to Browne Tower Hotel Wednesday, 20 May 2015 Monday, 18 May 2015Dublin South-Central , , , , Michael Conaghan "couldn't be bothered" according to Browne Our Lady's Hall in Drimnagh Wednesday, 3 June 20153 Monday, 25 May 2015 or 1 June 2015?3Laois , , Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Wednesday, 10 June 2015 Monday, 8 June 2015Galway East , , , Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry Wednesday, 17 June 2015 Monday, 15 June 2015Kerry , , , , , Deenihan was abroad at the time, representing the government in San Francisco following the Berkeley balcony collapse. Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney Wednesday, 24 June 2015 Monday, 22 June 2015Dublin Rathdown , , , , Brass Bar at the Stillorgan Park Hotel Wednesday, 1 July 2015 Monday, 29 June 2015Offaly , Tullamore Court Hotel Wednesday, 8 July 2015 Monday, 6 July 2015Dublin Bay North , , , , Clontarf Hotel Wednesday, 9 September 2015 Monday, 7 September 2015 Roscommon–Galway , The Abbey Hotel, Conference and Leisure Centre in Roscommon Wednesday, 16 September 2015 Monday, 14 September 2015Carlow–Kilkenny , , , , The Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow Wednesday, 23 September 2015 Monday, 21 September 2015Cork South-West , , The Maritime Hotel in Bantry Wednesday, 30 September 2015 Monday, 28 September 2015Dublin South-West , , , St Anne's GAA Club Wednesday, 7 October 2015 Monday, 5 October 2015Dublin Central , , , DCU St Patrick's Campus Wednesday, 21 October 2015 Monday, 19 October 2015Dún Laoghaire , , , The Royal Marine Hotel Wednesday, 4 November 2015 Monday, 2 November 2015Wexford , ,, , White's Hotel Wednesday, 11 November 2015 Monday, 9 November 2015Tipperary , , , , , Kelly promised he would appear but never arrived. Clonmel Park Hotel Wednesday, 18 November 2015 Monday, 16 November 2015Cork North-Central , , , The Commons Inn, Commons Road, Cork Wednesday, 25 November 2015 Monday, 23 November 2015Dublin Bay South , , The Ballsbridge Hotel Wednesday, 2 December 2015 Monday, 30 November 2015Limerick City , , , The Limerick Strand Hotel Wednesday, 9 December 2015 Monday, 7 December 2015Kildare South , The Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge Wednesday, 6 January 2016 Monday, 4 January 2016Dublin Fingal , , , The Grand Hotel in Malahide Wednesday, 13 January 2016 Monday, 11 January 2016Cork East , , , The Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown Wednesday, 27 January 2016 Monday, 25 January 2016Longford–Westmeath , ,, The Grenville Arms Hotel in Mullingar Wednesday, 3 February 2016 Monday, 1 February 20164Cork South-Central , , , , The Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork Tuesday, 9 February 2016 N/ALouth , , , The Carrickdale Hotel in Dundalk Wednesday, 17 February 2016 N/ADublin West , , The Carlton Hotel in Blanchardstown Thursday, 18 February 2016 N/AMayo , , , Mayo Convention Centre at the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar Monday, 22 February 2016 N/A
References
External links Official website