No campaigner Cora Sherlock pulls out of tonight’s Prime Time referendum debate

Just hours before the debate airs.

Spokesperson for the Love Both campaign, Cora Sherlock, has pulled out of tonight’s Prime Time debate on RTÉ. Cora was meant to take to the stage tonight to debate with Minister for Health Simon Harris and Professor Mary Higgins but is now said to be unavailable. Ms Sherlock was due to join Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín in calling for a No vote tonight, but RTÉ has been told that she is no longer available, with the No side suggesting Maria Steen from the Iona Institute as her replacement. Steen appeared on last week’s highly contentious debate on Claire Byrne Live, which now reportedly makes her unable to participate in tonight’s debate.

Tonight on Prime Time: RTÉ's final television debate on the referendum.

RTÉ One, 9.35#rtept pic.twitter.com/JOwBvlWA7e — RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) May 22, 2018

According to reports, a row has now broken out between the No campaign and RTÉ, with both sides reportedly in a "stand-off" over who will join the panel. Members of the Save the 8^th campaign told the Irish Times that RTÉ is “playing outrageous games”, saying that they would not allow the broadcaster to “do to us what they did to Sean Gallagher”. The debate is to air tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.