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Party leaders take part in second TV debate Party leaders take part in second TV debate
(about 1 hour later)
Leaders of Northern Ireland's five biggest political parties are taking part in their second live TV debate of the assembly election campaign. Leaders of Northern Ireland's five biggest political parties have taken part in their second live TV debate of the assembly election campaign.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Féin, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Alliance are represented. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Féin, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Alliance were represented.
The programme, broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland, started at 21:00 GMT. The botched Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, cross-community vote transfers and Brexit were discussed on the programme.
Noel Thompson chairs the debate between Arlene Foster, Michelle O'Neill, Mike Nesbitt, Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long. It was broadcast on BBC One NI.
It comes ahead of polling day on 2 March. Noel Thompson chaired the debate between Arlene Foster (DUP), Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin), Mike Nesbitt (UUP), Colum Eastwood (SDLP) and Naomi Long (Alliance).
The first debate, hosted by UTV a fortnight ago, was dominated by the fall out from the botched Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI). The party leaders were put on the spot over cross-community voting and who they would transfer their second preference votes to.
In the UTV broadcast, party leaders also disagreed on Brexit and on the UUP leader's announcement that he would give his number two preference vote to the SDLP. DUP leader Arlene Foster criticised Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt for saying he would transfer his second preference vote to the SDLP in the election.
"No serious commentator is saying that with a vote for Mike, you'd get Colum," Mrs Foster said.
"If you vote for Mike, you will get Michelle, that's the reality."
Mr Nesbitt replied: "People voted for you the last time and they got Martin McGuinness, and he wrote your resignation letter."
Sinn Féin's leader north of the border, Michelle O'Neill, told the debate she could not dictate who leads the DUP, but could dictate who her party enters government with.
She said the DUP "will have a choice to make" after the election.
Mrs O'Neill said: "I cannot go into government with Arlene Foster in the position of first or deputy first minister whilst there is a cloud hanging over her.
"The full {RHI} investigation needs to report, but the public will have their say."
Earlier in the debate, Mrs Foster said there was not a "scintilla of evidence" in relation to allegations made against her.
Colum Eastwood of the SDLP said Mr Nesbitt was "very brave" to say he would give his second preference vote to the SDLP and added the public were "way ahead" of politicians on cross-community voting.
"I'm an Irish nationalist, Mike Nesbitt's an Ulster Unionist, I won't be any less of an Irish nationalist if I transfer across community. It doesn't affect one iota my nationalism. I think it's the kind of politics that we need to be embracing."
Alliance leader Naomi Long said her party had "fought every election" on the basis of seeking cross-community support.
"I am glad that other parties are talking about actually co-operating on the basis of doing so voluntarily rather than doing it, as others have said, holding their nose to go into government with each other."
She added that people are tired of being "pulled back into the ditches" and wanted to move forward.
The debate was held ahead of polling day on 2 March.