Leaders gear up for five-way debate

Leaders of the country’s main political parties were tonight preparing for the first five-way televised debate of the 2011 General Election campaign, with the economy predicted to take centre stage.

The 90-minute debate, to be broadcast live on RTÉ television’s The Front Line programme, will see Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny face off with Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil, Eamon Gilmore of The Labour Party, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and John Gormley of the Greens.