considerable | fierce, heated, intense, lively, vigorous
There has been heated debate about whether the film should be allowed.

wider
You cannot separate unemployment from the wider debate about the economy.

public
Television actually encourages public debate about such issues.

political

have | contribute to
Many leading charities have contributed to the debate on world poverty.

encourage, promote
A healthy society promotes vigorous debate.

spark off
This accident has sparked off an intense debate on road safety.

stifle
He accused the government of trying to stifle debate.

lose, win
The environmentalists seem to have lost the debate over the building of this road.

be a matter for, be open to
The benefits of the new law are open to debate.

rage, take place
A debate about safety is taking place in schools everywhere.

under ~
The issue is still under debate.

~ about/on/over
the debate on the environment

~ among
the debate among academics

~ surrounding
the debate surrounding contemporary art

the subject of debate
The proposed changes to the law have been the subject of much debate.

brief | lengthy, long | acrimonious, fierce, heated, lively, stormy
a stormy debate in the House of Commons

congressional, parliamentary
a parliamentary debate on the fishing industry

have, hold
We had a brief debate about whether or not to accept the offer. | The union holds debates for students.

participate in, speak in, take part in
Do you ever speak in debates?

open
The prime minister will open the debate.

close | lose, win
The government lost the debate in the House of Commons.

during/in a/the~ | ~ about/on
Many of these points were raised during the debate on prison reform.

fully, properly, seriously, thoroughly | fiercely, hotly
The issue is still being hotly debated.

openly, publicly
The question of security needs to be debated publicly.

at length, endlessly, extensively

with
a presidential candidate debating with his opponent He sat there debating with himself what to do.

be widely debated
The report has been widely debated in the industry.