Twenty-four hour cardiac care, childcare, rates and rural issues dominated the first of two election debates hosted by WLR's Damien Tiernan in the Park Hotel, Dungarvan last evening.
The five candidates present were Mary Butler, Fianna Fail, Damien Geoghegan, Fine Gael, Bernadette Philips, non-party, John Pratt, Labour and Matt Shanahan, non-party.
With two of the five candidates standing on the healthcare issue, hospital matters came to the fore early in the debate.
Mary Butler said she expected 24/7 cardiac care would be delivered in the lifetime of the next government and said there were positive steps being made already to deliver it, although it was a slow process.
She refused to be drawn on whether she would resign over the issue, however Fine Gael Councillor Damien Geoghegan said it was an issue he would resign over.
"It was good enough for a Fine Gael TD in Kilkenny to threaten to resign over the boundary issue and I would resign over it".
Matt Shanahan said the healthcare system was in crisis, he was committed to 24/7 but echoed Mary Butler when he emphasised that moves towards an 8 to 8 cardiac service from 9 to 5 was progress.
Bernadette Phillips said she was running a "realities-based" campaign and wasn't a single-issue candidate.
"I'm standing very much on a social justice platform, on a human rights platform on the issues the people really really feel they have no voice for". The Independent candidate said she wanted to see post offices and rural garda stations reopened. When asked how she would pay for this, she said it would be achieved through higher taxation levels, and suggested those earning over 100 thousand euro could pay a higher tax rate, "possibly 60%".
Deise presenter Damien Tiernan put it to the candidates that it was all very well saying they would demand improved services but the real power was held by those with ministerial posts.
Mary Butler said she was well placed for a promotion within a Fianna Fail government, and John Pratt said nobody knew how the next government would be formed, and he would gladly serve if called upon. While Damien Geoghegan said he enjoyed an excellent relationship with both Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney but wouldn't make any promises he couldn't stand over.
Independent Matt Shanahan highlighted the achievements of those in the Independent Alliance in the last government with Boxer Moran getting money for Athlone IT, Sean Canney's expansion of cardiac services in Galway and Shane Ross's judicial bill: "It shows (what can be achieved) if you hold a balance of power, and that's a bet that people will be taking with someone like me".
It was a lively debate, with contributions from representatives of sectors ranging from childcare to education and farming. Listen back to the full election special below:
