The RTÉ Leaders' Debate has been slammed after they failed to discuss climate change and long term planning.

The Green Party said it was "extremely disappointing" after a debate on climate change was not included.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said: "We fought to be included in the seven Leaders' Debate because we felt we could bring an important perspective to the fore. This perspective, of long term thinking and planning, was notably absent from last night's debate, as we feared it would be.

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"Not one word was uttered about the long term effects of climate change, how we mitigate it, or how we build a strong, resilient economy for the long term. The World Bank have warned that climate change is the number one risk to long term growth and economic security, yet in last night's return to well-rehearsed 'stability versus chaos' arguments it was not mentioned once.

"Auction politics and short term political thinking have hugely damaged our country in the past. We wanted to broaden the debate and bring in some long term thinking about the global trends that are going to affect our country. The rest of the world is starting to go Green, as Governments commit to tackling climate change. It makes real economic sense for Ireland to be a leader rather than a follower in making that transition."

(CD/LM)