Ireland’s First Ever Mayoral Election TV Debate live from Limerick this Monday Night on Upfront with Katie Hannon

– All candidates invited to debate live on the night

As part of RTÉ’s extensive coverage in the run up to the elections on Friday 7th June, Upfront with Katie Hannon will broadcast live from Limerick ahead of the historical election to select Ireland’s first directly elected mayor, with a special TV debate this Monday, 27 May, on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

RTÉ  is inviting all 15 candidates to participate on stage in one of two panel debates during the broadcast, from the Lime Tree Theatre on the campus of Mary Immaculate College in a specially extended programme.

RTÉ’s initial planned programme format included an on-stage panel of eight candidates who qualified for the debate under the RTÉ television debate criteria, with the remaining seven candidates offered a place in the audience from where they could make a one minute election pitch to voters.

Following the declaration last weekend of the final list of candidates for the Limerick Mayoral Election, the RTÉ Election Steering Group has been reviewing the format of the television debate on Upfront With Katie Hannon.

Taking account of the unique and historical nature of this election, the fact there are just 15 declared candidates, and the flexibility for wider participation the theatre venue provides, additional broadcast time has been allocated for a specially extended programme.

RTÉ believes that viewers will be best served by the programme having two separate panels to ensure that the debates are as coherent and informative as possible.

Monday night’s programme will see the eight candidates who qualified under the RTÉ election TV debate criteria participate in part one of the programme. The remaining seven candidates are now being invited to debate in part two of the programme.

As the city and county of Limerick will vote to directly elect a Mayor for the first time in the history of the state, the programme will look to explore what this will mean for the people of Limerick, and could this unique election transform local democracy across the country?

In the final episode of this series, Upfront with Katie Hannon will continue its audience driven format and candidates in the upcoming election will answer questions submitted from the general public.

Watch Upfront with Katie Hannon, this coming Monday night from 10.35pm on RTÉ One and RTE Player.

Note: Recent updated election guidance from Coimisiún na Meán states:

Broadcasters should note that elections are dynamic events, and they should give active consideration to their approach to coverage over the duration of the election campaign period and amend this approach if they consider it necessary and appropriate so as to ensure fairness, objectivity and impartiality.