The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will agree to one head-to-head television debate with the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, during the forthcoming general election campaign, but he has rejected requests for additional debates from both RTÉ and TV3.
Mr Noonan has challenged Mr Ahern to hold "a minimum of two head-to-head debates with me, a fortnight apart, and at least one radio debate during the election campaign". The Fine Gael leader commented: "If he really believes the Government's record can be defended, he should have no difficulty in meeting this challenge."
However, a spokesman for Mr Ahern said yesterday that the Taoiseach would agree to the "traditional" television confrontation with the Leader of the Opposition near the end of the campaign.
Another debate at the start of the campaign has been proposed by RTÉ but turned down by the Taoiseach. He has also refused a separate request from TV3 for a debate with Mr Noonan.
There are also suggestions in Fianna Fáil circles that the single debate should not be in the traditional RTÉ studio context, but could be held in some public forum from which both RTÉ and TV3 could broadcast.
Mr Noonan accused Mr Ahern of "running away" by turning down the RTÉ and TV3 requests for debates near the start and finish of the campaign.