Major TV debates to form part of RTE’s European Parliament election coverage
RTE have announced details of its coverage across digital, TV and radio in the run up to the European Parliament elections on Friday, 7th June.
In addition to its extensive digital coverage, RTE will host three major live television debates on the European elections across three consecutive weeks in the lead up to polling day. Presenters Katie Hannon, Miriam O'Callaghan, Sarah McInerney and Fran McNulty will host the TV debates.
Beginning on Monday, 20th May, Upfront with Katie Hannon will focus on the Midlands North-West constituency. On Thursday, 30th May, a Prime Time Election Debate special will focus on the Ireland South constituency. The final of RTE's major TV debates of the campaign will see candidates in the Dublin constituency feature on a Prime Time Election Debate on Tuesday, 4th June.
With over 20 candidates in each constituency and more than 70 across the three European constituencies, RTE has set criteria for inviting candidates to the debates to ensure they are as informative and coherent as possible to best serve the audience. The criteria will see a maximum of eight candidates in each of the above television debates.
LIMERICK MAYORAL ELECTION
In addition, RTE will broadcast a live TV special from Limerick for the first ever Mayoral election. Upfront with Katie Hannon will be broadcast live on RTE One and RTE Player on Monday, 27th May.
RTE's comprehensive election campaign coverage will also see flagship current affairs programmes - Six One News, Today with Claire Byrne, Drivetime, The Week in Politics and This Week - broadcast a range of European constituency based programmes featuring candidates in various formats, including live and pre-recorded reports, along with analysis by
RTE's journalists on each of the European constituencies.
Across television and radio, there will be a total of 15 European constituency based programmes in varying formats. There will be a fair allocation of live coverage that recognises electoral record, but also provides scope for RTE to provide airtime to a diverse range of views, in accordance with election rules set out by the regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.
RTE programmes including Morning Ireland, Six One News and This Week, will broadcast on location from a number of towns and cities across the regions. Coverage of the upcoming local elections will also be featured across all RTE platforms in the coming weeks.
RTE's extensive digital elections campaign coverage will include constituency profiles, explainer videos, articles and live blogs of key events across the RTE News app, RTE.ie and RTE’s social media channels.