The Week in Politics

📺🎥On #RTETWIP today at Midday Hildegard Naughton, Mairéad Farrell and Peadar Tóibín will join Áine Lawlor.

The programme will also feature Paraic O’Brien, Channel 4's Foreign Affairs correspondent & Paul Cunningham, RTÉ's political correspondent.

The €3300 reportedly owed to a former tenant of Jim Gavin may pose a 'potential problem' to his campaign, says @sandrahurley.bsky.social

#RTETWIP #presidentialdebate repeats at 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie

Political Correspondent, @sandrahurley.bsky.social provides post #presidentialdebate analysis, noting that deliberate attempts were made by both Jim Gavin and Heather Humphrys to engage more in debate this time.

#RTETWIP repeats at 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie

Fine Gael's candidate Heather Humphrys tells @aine-lawlor.bsky.social that she has 'huge sympathy for people who can't get a house'

#RTETWIP #presidentialdebate repeats at 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie

'We need to have credibility in the world and whom we call out the abuse of power and the invasion by Russia of Ukraine, we must equally do so in relation to Israel, who are carrying out a genocide under our watch' says Catherine Connolly, on
#RTETWIP

Repeats at 23:10 tonight on @rteone.rte.ie

While Catherine Connolly says that 'no rules were broken' in relation to her employment of a woman with a criminal conviction, Jim Gavin says that the 'substantive issue' lies within the 'bypassing of the [respective] security process'.

#RTETWIP repeats tonight at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie

Presidential Candidate Heather Humphrys declares that 'Russia is the agressor' before claiming that @catherinegalway has 'never spoken out against Russia'

#RTETWIP repeats at 3, 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie #presidentialdebate

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly clarifies her recent comments about increased German military spending being akin to that of the 1930s.

#RTETWIP repeats at 3, 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie #presidentialdebate

Regarding the €3300 reportedly owed to a former tenant of his, Jim Gavin tells @aine-lawlor.bsky.social that he 'does not have all the information to date' and that he is 'looking into it'

#RTETWIP repeats at 3, 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 on @rteone.rte.ie #presidentialdebate

Today at noon on @rteone.rte.ie, @aine-lawlor.bsky.social will chair #RTETWIP Presidential debate with candidates, Fine Gael's Heather Humphrys, Independent Catherine Connolly and Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin.

Repeats will air later at 3, 6:30 and 10 on the news channel and at 23:10 again on RTÉ One.

Tomorrow, #RTETWIP presidential debate will be hosted by @aine-lawlor.bsky.social, with Presidential Candidates: Fine Gael's Heather Humphrys, Independent Catherine Connolly and Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin

Tune in at 12 on @rteone.rte.ie or catch the repeat at 3, 6:30 and 10 on the news channel

London Correspondent, @tommymeskill.bsky.social, recounts the varying sources of unhappiness within the Labour Party, which are being discussed at the party's annual conference in Liverpool this weekend.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie

@paulcunningham.bsky.social asks Minister of State, Emer Higgins about the likelihood of second tier child benefit in budget 2026.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@RTEOne #budget2026

TD Louise O'Reilly lays out her arguments in favour of 'a combination of one off measures and long-term targeted measures' to enable people to heat and light their homes.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on @rteone.rte.ie #budget2026

Ged Nash purports that there is a 'whiff of 2008' about the government's latest tax package.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie #budget2026

Mícheál Lehane reports from Jim Gavin's official presidential campaign launch, which saw a local business owner, Sinead Donnelly, explain to the audience how Jim Gavin's support has helped prevent her business from closing.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie

Labour's Ged Nash is asked about Catherine Connolly's comments on German defence spending, where she drew to parallels Germany in the 1930s..

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie #presidency

Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly asserts her views on the future of the Irish #presidency: 'I think if we're going to have a conversation about how we elect Uachtarán na hÉireann in the future, that conversation has to involve making sure that all of the people on this island have a vote'.

Referencing Maria Steen's recent comments,
@paulcunningham.bsky.social asks Emer Higgins if prospective independent candidates are being 'squeezed out' by the current nomination process for presidential elections

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie #presidency

Also, on #RTETWIP today at 12 on @rteone.rte.ie @paulcunningham.bsky.social is joined by London Correspondent, @tommymeskill.bsky.social from the Labour Party's Annual Conference in Liverpool and by Political Correspondent, Mícheál Lehane, who is covering Jim Gavin's presidential campaign launch.

On #RTETWIP today at 12, @paulcunningham.bsky.social is joined by Minister of State, Emer Higgins, TD Ged Nash and TD Louise O'Reilly to discuss the #presidency and the upcoming #budget2026. Tune in to @RTEOne.

Rebroadcasts tonight at 23:05

In the latter half of the show, @paulcunningham.bsky.social will be joined by Tommy Meskill, who is covering the Labour Party's Annual Conference in Liverpool this weekend, and by Mícheál Lehane, who will be reporting live from the official launch of Jim Gavin's presidential campaign.

@paulnews.bsky.social will be stepping in to present tomorrow's show, where he will be joined by guests:

Minister of State, Eimear Higgins, TD Nash Ged and TD Louise O'Reilly to discuss the #presidency and the upcoming #budget2026.

Broadcasts at noon on @rteone.rte.ie

"Peadar Tóibín is doing a great job of talking up Maria Steen's chances" says Executive Editor with the Irish Independent, Kevin Doyle, while discussing the ongoing presidential campaign with @aine-lawlor.bsky.social.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on @rteone.rte.ie #presidency

Executive Editor with the Irish Independent, Kevin Doyle, reflects on the Maria Steen's and Gareth Sheridan's respective chances of gaining presidential contestant nominations

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on @rteone.rte.ie #presidency

@aine-lawlor.bsky.social asks Minister Timmy Dooley why the Government are pulling financial supports to householders when the cost of living is rising.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on @rteone.rte.ie #budget2026

Cian O'Callaghan outlines his party's stance on universal energy credits and why the Social Democrats are in favour of targeted measures.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie #budget2026

Sinn Féin's Claire Kerrane asserts that hotels and fast food franchises should be excluded from VAT rate reductions to the hospitality sector in next month's budget.

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie
#budget2026

@aine-lawlor.bsky.social asks Minister Timmy Dooley what would happen if a Fianna Fáil Oireachtas member decides to support Maria Steen's presidential candidacy bid

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on
@rteone.rte.ie #presidency

Social Democrats' Deputy Leader, Cian O'Callaghan weighs in on the presidency to date; "If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael think that they have this sewn up they're making a mistake and they're taking the public for granted".

#RTETWIP will rebroadcast tonight at 23:05 on @rteone.rte.ie