Facebook hosts General Election debate in Dublin
Timmy Dooley has caused waves on Twitter with his comments on corporate tax.
Scaremongering!! All about the fear. Ridiculous from the main parties. #RTE2ElectionSpecial
— JimPBPCork (@JimPBPCork) February 21, 2016
#RTE2ElectionSpecial many of Google/Facebook staff not Irish at all. They are here for the tax breaks and grants.
— Ciara Clancy (@Seesee96) February 21, 2016
It's foolish to think big corporations can't or won't leave Ireland! #RTE2ElectionSpecial
— Peter B (@pbmosligo) February 21, 2016
Mary Lou McDonald on student fees: "There's no doubt the registration fee is an issue."
"If we're serious about giving our young people the best chance that we can we need to remove those fees."
"I think it is a smart investment to invest in education."
Oh no! I've just agreed with Mary Lou for the first time re funding for post-grads and doctoral students. #RTE2ElectionSpecial #GE16
— Ciarán O' Driscoll / Ó Drisceoil🇵🇸🇺🇦🏳️⚧️ (@bearaboi) February 21, 2016
Facebook says there has been 4.7 million interactions on its site about the General Election.
The social network reports that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been the most widely discussed political leader of the campaign so far.
Facebook is hosting a General Election debate at its European Headquarters in Dublin tonight.
"We have seen in elections right around the globe that people actually turn to Facebook to share with their friends the issues that will define the way that they vote leading up to polling day.
"What we've seen is actually, thus far, health has taken a slight lead in the way that people are talking about this election, until just about a week ago when the economy budged ahead."
Good discussion on #RTE2ElectionSpecial ! like its a mixture of public and politicians giving opinions and experiences!
— Méabh Cody (@meabhc) February 21, 2016
First up is Leo Varadkar who says the area of health has been given priority but, "we can't do everything."
Mental health has been a topic largely ignored in previous debates.
Behind the scenes at #RTE2ElectionSpecial at Facebook pic.twitter.com/AgIgCbSEcV
— Neil Leyden (@neilleyden) February 21, 2016
Facebook is hosting a General Election debate at its European Headquarters in Dublin tonight.
The social network reports that Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been the most widely discussed political leader on its site of this election campaign so far.
Tonight, seven politicians will go head to had in the debate broadcast on RTE 2 from 9.30pm.
They include Health Minister Leo Varadkar, Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, Minister of State Aodhan O'Riordan, Independent Averil Power and Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley.
Facebook's Elizabeth Linder, says interactions and political engagement typically peaks online during a televised debate.
"At Facebook we refer to this as second-strain behaviour, so that is to say as people are watching a major event play out on television, they're sitting at home on their couch or out at a pub around the corner, reacting to and sharing information."
