Mary Regan: How two presidential candidates failed to take on TV debate challenge – and where to next?

Every candidate seeking power in a democracy has the right to express their policies, but the voter is best served when those positions are rigorously tested, Mary Regan writes

Presidential candidates, from left, Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin of Fianna Fáil and Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael with presenter Kieran Cuddihy at the first televised debate of the 2025 Presidential Election campaign on Virgin Media’s The Tonight Show in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Independent Catherine Connolly now has the momentum behind her presidential campaign, after outperforming her opponents in the first televised debate.

She was by far the most comfortable and asser

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