RTÉ Announces Series of Debates as part of its Presidential Election Coverage
– Key Presidential Debates to help voters decide
– First Debate this Sunday 5 October on RTÉ One & RTÉ Player
Over the course of the 2025 Presidential election campaign RTÉ is providing extensive coverage across television, radio and online platforms.
Across the next three weeks RTÉ will host a range of debates over audio and video platforms to provide audiences with opportunities to engage with the electoral messages of each candidate, ahead of polling day on Friday 24th October.
Beginning this Sunday on The Week in Politics, Áine Lawlor will be joined by Catherine Connolly TD, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys live in studio to debate the issues facing the 10th President of Ireland. The programme will air live on RTÉ One at 12 noon and again at 11.10pm that night.
RTÉ Radio 1 flagship programmes Drivetime, This Week and Morning Ireland have invited all candidates to take part in live on-air debates between the 7th – 19th October as the campaign proceeds to elect Ireland’s next President.
RTÉ Prime Time will host the final major debate of the campaign on Tuesday 21st October, three days ahead of the country going to the polls. Presenters Miriam O’Callaghan and Sarah McInerney will ask the important questions as voters look to decide on who to elect. The Behind the Story podcast team will also be recording a bonus episode from backstage on the night.
RTE.ie, RTÉ News App and RTÉ’s social media accounts will provide real time updates and capture video of key moments from the debates in live blogs with follow-up expert analysis from our political team.
All RTÉ debates will be available to stream live worldwide via the RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio Player.
RTÉ’s comprehensive election campaign coverage will also see flagship news and current affairs programmes Six One News, Today with Claire Byrne and News at One with Rachael English broadcast a range of one-to-one interviews featuring candidates, as well as broadcasts and reports on location from a number of towns and cities along the campaign trail to hear the views of voters on the ground.
In addition, a brand-new three-part series, The Katie Hannon Big Interview Live will feature each of the presidential candidates in in-depth programmes at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Through extensive reporting and analysis across TV, radio, and online in English and as Gaeilge, RTÉ will keep audiences informed on the latest developments and key issues of Presidential Election 2025, helping the public to make informed choices on polling day.