Overview

• Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly faced off in their first head‑to‑head on RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime, highlighting sharp differences on foreign policy and the presidency’s international role.
• Humphreys likened Connolly’s outlook to Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement, a comparison Connolly rejected as a scurrilous mischaracterization of her stance.
• Connolly clarified she would never hire someone on the sex offenders register after previously saying she would have to reflect on hiring a convicted rapist, as Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill questioned her fitness for office.
• Opposition leaders backing Connolly called the Fine Gael criticisms smear tactics, while Humphreys denied any smear from her or her campaign and said the contest should remain a fair campaign.
• With Jim Gavin withdrawn but still on the ballot, election officials have examined how to handle any votes he receives, with transfers to be considered only if his tally exceeds the gap between the remaining candidates on count day.