Race to the Áras: Candidates clash on Russia, rent and border polls during tetchy second debate

All three candidates were asked about the lack of a debate in Irish, with Ms Connolly the only candidate who is fluent. 

Irish presidential candidates, (left to right) Fine Gael's candidate Heather Humphreys, independent candidate Catherine Connolly, who is backed by Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin, during a debate on The Week in Politics at RTE studios in Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture date: Sunday October 5, 2025.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has said that "no rules were broken" in her employment of a woman who had been convicted of firearms offences.

The second live presidential debate on RTÉ's The Week In Politics saw Ms Connolly and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys clash on the employment of former Eirigí member Ursula Ní Shionnáin to a committee on the Irish language in 2018.