Invitations to party leaders to partake in 'Tonight with Vincent Browne'
The following are letters of invitation to party leaders to take part in interviews with Vincent Browne on TV3’s Tonight programme.
To Brian Cowen TD, Taoiseach.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Dear Brian,
First, I wish you, Mary and your family a happy Christmas and a happy 2010.
I want to extend again an invitation to you to come on the Tonight programme sometime in January or February, at a date of your choosing.
You were on RTE television and radio programmes on several occasions in 2009 and we hope that early in 2010 you will afford us an opportunity to interview you. The issues we would like to explore with you are the obvious ones:
The budgetary strategy and its fairness.
The banking bail-out and what they might ultimately cost this society.
Your own position as leader of the government and of Fianna Fail.
If you wish I can let you have a more detailed list of questions some days prior to the programme.
I understand your media adviser, Eoghan O’Neachtain has said to our producer that you will never partake in the Tonight programme. I hope this does not reflect you position and I look forward to hearing from you.
I am writing to each of the other party leaders in similar terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Browne
To Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Dear Enda,
First, I wish you, Fionnuala and your family a happy Christmas and a happy 2010.
I want to extend again an invitation to you to come on the Tonight programme sometime in January or February, at a date of your choosing. The Tonight programme has been on the air for two years now and I hope you finally will agree to be interviewed.
The issues we would like to explore with you are the obvious ones:
Fine Gael policy on the economy, banking, health and social welfare..
Your ambition to be Taoiseach and your readiness for the role.
How Coalition with Labour could be constructed given the policy differences.
How a government led by you would be different from the current government.
If you wish I can let you have a more detailed list of questions some days prior to the programme.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am writing to each of the other party leaders in similar terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Browne
To Eamon Gilmore, leader of the Labour Party.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Dear Eamon,
First, I wish you and your family a happy Christmas and a happy 2010.
I want to extend an invitation to you to come on the Tonight programme sometime in January or February, at a date of your choosing.
The issues we would like to explore with you are the obvious ones:
Labour policy on the economy, banking, health and social welfare..
How Coalition with Fine Gael could be constructed given the policy differences.
Your policy on public sector pay and possible public sector strikes or work-to-rule initiatives.
How a government involving Labour would be different from the current government.
If you wish I can let you have a more detailed list of questions some days prior to the programme.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am writing to each of the other party leaders in similar terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Browne
Letter to Gerry Adams, Leader of Sinn Fein
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Dear Gerry,
First, I wish you and your family a happy Christmas and a happy 2010.
I want to extend an invitation to you to come on the Tonight programme sometime in January or February, at a date of your choosing.
The issues we would like to explore with you are the obvious ones:
Finn Fein’s policy on the economy, banking, health and social welfare..
Sinn Fein’s willingness to join in a coalition government after the next election..
Sinn Fein policy on public sector pay and possible public sector strikes or work-to-rule initiatives.
The position regarding the NI executive and how it can be rescued from an apparently imminent collapse.
Sinn Fein’s attitude to dissident republicans, who want to pursue the same course as the IRA did for three decades
If you wish I can let you have a more detailed list of questions some days prior to the programme.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am writing to the other party leaders in similar terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Browne
To John Gormley, leader of the Green Party.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Dear John,
First, I wish you and your family a happy Christmas and a happy 2010.
I want to extend an invitation to you to come on the Tonight programme sometime in January or February, at a date of your choosing.
The issues we would like to explore with you are the obvious ones:
The 2010 budget...
The banking strategy
What the Green Party has contributed to government policy
Climate change.
Whether the Green Party has considered withdrawing from the government.
If you wish I can let you have a more detailed list of questions some days prior to the programme.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am writing to the other party leaders in similar terms.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Browne