Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 should urgently reconsider their decision not to host a by-election debate in Irish ahead of polling day on Friday, according to the Social Democrats’ Galway West candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich.
Míde said:
“Earlier this week, Galway Bay FM hosted a live debate in which almost all the candidates standing in the by-election participated. This event provided listeners in Galway with a valuable opportunity to hear where each candidate stands on the important issues dominating this campaign, from the cost of living and housing crises to healthcare and traffic gridlock.
“While I welcomed the opportunity to be on RnaG’s ‘Adhmhaidin’ with one other candidate, I believe that Gaeltacht communities in Galway West deserve a full debate with as many candidates and/or their representatives as possible.
“Galway West is home to the largest Gaeltacht in the country, which is well served by two popular Irish language television and radio stations, both of which have a public service remit.
“It is unfortunate that only a handful of candidates have enough Irish to participate in a debate – but why should Gaeltacht areas lose out because of this? I have previously proposed that parties and independent candidates should agree to put forward a fluent Irish speaker to represent them in any TG4 or RnaG debates, which I believe is a fair and workable solution.
“I am renewing that call today. With just days to go to polling on Friday, there is still time for both stations to reconsider their position and facilitate a debate in Irish out of respect for our Gaeltacht communities.”
May 19, 2026