Overview

• The contest has pivoted to attacks over Catherine Connolly’s past work as a barrister, with Heather Humphreys pressing for details on any repossession cases for UK banks.
• Connolly calls the accusations a “new low” and points to the cab-rank rule that obliges barristers to accept cases in their area of practice.
• Fine Gael promoted a social media video highlighting the issue as ministers questioned Connolly’s disclosures, drawing criticism from Labour’s Ivana Bacik and the Social Democrats’ Holly Cairns.
• RTÉ’s Prime Time hosts the final debate on Tuesday at 9.35pm, presented by Miriam O’Callaghan and Sarah McInerney, and campaigns regard it as a key moment for undecided voters.
• Polling puts Connolly near 38% to Humphreys’ 20% ahead of Friday’s 24 October vote, with turnout and a possible spike in spoiled ballots identified as crucial factors.