Presidential Election.

He is representing FF so he will not be allowed to say anything.

Excellent points. And look, we’re not here to baby sit candidates - they asked for the chance so they need to prove it - but it’s funny, I hadn’t considered voting for Jim to date - but if he can do as you describe he might go up in the polls -I’m not voting CC that’s for certain - drab dreary moany and wants to import all of the worlds problems to Ireland - and completely undiplomatic -get lost it’s not happening - it’s Heather or Jim- both terrible candidates and I wouldn’t have given them a second look in previous elections but we are where we are - I might go JG 1 HH2 - simply to try and maximise support for HH when JG gets eliminated

Even though has little to do with the Áras from a planning or decision process, anyone who thinks Ireland doesn't require a new prison when directly asked needs to give their head a wobble. The problem with Connelly, is that her head is so full of holes and devoid of real-world logic in near every thought her brain would fall out if she attempted that. Can't recall if the same direct question was put to the other two, as they probably just parlayed the usual party line around under resourced Guards etc..........not to mention Jim, when he's not pointing his hands, telling us he's walking up and down O'Connell Street night and day wearing a cape. Certainly know their backers aren't arsed about the rule of law.

Any political option at an election who really gets behind the building of a new prison alongwith massive practical crackdowns around law and order would do very, very well at any ballot box as far as this voter is concerned.

Is it going down or are people just not reporting it because maybe they think what's the point, either the Gardaí will do nothing except log it in the system or if they do do something and catch the person then the courts will wag their finger and say don't do that again.

Also how will Catherine Connolly or any of the other candidates going to get more Gardaí or community policing? They are not in government and have no input into government so this is all just a load of soundbites.

Having said that, he has always been fairly bland in GAA too. His Dublin teams kind of reflected that quietly effective and efficient style — and in his interviews and TV appearances he very much came across as a cool headed pilot more so than a passionate type. The guy's the Chief Operations Officer for Irish Aviation — he just isn't going to bring that academic style that characterised Robinson, McAleese and Higgins.

My issue with Gavin more so however (and I guess is close to what you're getting at too) is that he doesn't seem believable as a candidate — like to the point he also doesn't even seem really believe in his own candidacy. He seems wooden and his answers on things seem formulaic and lacking in sincere critical thought. At the very least, Connolly seems to have convictions on things that she can articulate, whether one agrees with them or not.

To be honest though, I look at the three candidates and all I can say is that the absence of a particular woman really hits home — and it's not Maria Steen, it's Deirde Heenan. Granted she's relatively unknown in the South but is probably one of the most articulate political commentators out there and seems fairly adept at the politics of conciliation. Could be my Northern bias, but she would have been a top candidate.

What does quizzing about Gaza, Ukraine and Europe's military spending have to do with office either ? After all, that comprised of about near 70% of the debate last night.

It was a rubbish debate, but the questions give a salient insight into the thought process of the individuals, or at least attempt to. It's an opportunity to see if a candidate is honest, true and holds relevant values that can resonate with their potential voter. Even if you don't agree with their stance, you can also ascertain how far a bridge could be built across that divide, if at all. It also, more relatably, gives an idea about their overall mindset given previous public stances and pre-concieved notions. Connelly is, regrettably, exactly what was on the box - lives on a different planet with little grasp on reality and what exists outside her echo chambers, Heather tried to keep quiet (and for good reason) for much of last night bar her closing opportunity, leaving Gavin as the only unknown quantity of the group. If we had of known he'd be a Martin clone with a battery-operated lever action on his hands, sure what would be the point ?

FWIW, my closing line about a political option doing potentially well in an election with regard to policy around law and order is about elections in general. Not only this. We all know what the office and its purvue entails and it'll be a sad day when one of those on show last night is rewarded so.

I would go with figurehead rather than diplomat if putting a general use term on the role TBH.

Ceremonial diplomat at a push. But Head of State is most accurate.

Well, she actually said we're over capacity and "we haven't enough prisons", and then asked about three or four times if we need more especially seeing as how the population has increased, simple yes or no would suffice...........to which the usual wishy-washy line about 'how more prisons arent the answer, we've never looked at the root causes' etc. Typical open-minded idealism that is closer to what the ruling classes persist with than she probably realises TBH.

It's an opportunity to have a bullet-point to a section of debate, and one that would resonate with voters looking for proper direction from a potential public figure. She went the other way. Probably gained a few votes with the multiple conviction crowd all the same, so not all lost.

Semantics. When we require our diplomats to negotiate trade and cultural deals or, God forbid, negotiating in a conflict resolution, and the other side request our chief diplomat, we don't ring up the Park and get Higgins on the line

Now, if we need someone to shake a few hands, receive credentials and get the visitor's book signed, we have just the lad for that.

You can say chief diplomat fine, but that doesnt make it strictly true or accurate.

I think you are right, he seems over coached and not natural or comfortable in being able to answer. He really didnt handle the barb that CC threw at him around his comments about israels military objectives - i think those were taken out of context but he still got flustered and that should have been a very easy question and foreseeable one to have a response to.

He also made some vague references to the constitution and I think a better moderator would have pushed him harder on the specifics of what he was referring to (that goes for all of them tbh). Id be very worried if i was jim and was going up against Sarah McInerney for example