RT Announces Series of Major TV Debates as part of its European Parliament Election Coverage

RT has announced details of its coverage across digital, TV and Radio in the run up to the European Parliament Elections. These details are included below.

The RT Election Steering Group has separately published our broad approach to the elections taking account of past court and regulatory decisions and the updated guidance issued by the Coimisi n na Me n. That document can be viewed here.

The overall consideration in our coverage is fairness - however fair treatment does not mean equal treatment between parties, groups and candidates.

RT 's television, radio and digital election coverage

In addition to its extensive digital coverage, RT 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 RT 's major TV debate 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, RT 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.

In addition, RT will broadcast a live TV special from Limerick for the first ever Mayoral Election. Upfront with Katie Hannon will be broadcast live on RT One and RT Player on Monday 27th May.

RT '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 RT '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 RT to provide airtime to a diverse range of views, in accordance with election rules set out by the regulator, Coimisi n na Me n.

RT 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 RT platforms in the coming weeks.

RT 's extensive digital elections campaign coverage will include constituency profiles, explainer videos, articles and live blogs of key events across the RT News app, RT .ie and RT 's social media channels.

Upfront with Katie Hannon Election Debate (Midlands Northwest) - Monday 20th May, on RT One & RT Player

Prime Time Election Debate (Ireland South) - Thursday 30th May, on RT One & RT Player

Prime Time Election Debate (Dublin) - Tuesday 4th June, on RT One & RT Player

Today with Claire Byrne (Ireland South) - RT Radio 1

Drivetime (Dublin) - RT Radio 1

Drivetime (Midlands North West) - RT Radio 1

Six One News (South) - RT One & RT Player

Six One News (Dublin) - RT One & RT Player

Six One News (Midlands North West) - RT One & RT Player

The Week in Politics (South) - RT One & RT Player

The Week in Politics (Midlands North West)- RT One & RT Player

The Week in Politics (Dublin) - RT One & RT Player

This Week (South) - RT Radio 1

This Week (Midlands North West) - RT Radio 1

This Week (Dublin) - RT Radio 1

Upfront with Katie Hannon (Limerick Mayoral) - Monday 27th May, on RT One & RT Player

Further programme details will issue in due course.

Programme details outlined above are as currently planned but may be subject to change.

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2024/05/06/rte-announces-series-of-major-tv-debat...
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