'The electorate is exhausted – and there's weeks to go'. So declared the headline on Ann Marie Hourihane's typically entertaining column in the Irish Times on 7 February, as the second week of official campaigning began. By Angela Long

The media-led argument about the leaders' debate – should it happen? Who should take part? – has spun off some interesting points about the broadcasting restrictions (and exemptions) on party political material. By Angela Long

We might all be watching filmed material on the internet every day, but the colour and movement there has not come within the beady eye of the regulator as regards political balance.

[Pictured: Labour leader Eamon Gilmore during last night's debate on TV3]