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21st May 2018

Here’s the line-up for Tuesday’s RTÉ Prime Time Referendum Debate 

Dave Hanratty

A fresh debate from the national broadcaster before Friday.

Following on from a controversial edition of Claire Byrne Live, RTÉ will once again host a panel concerning the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Prime Time – The Referendum Debate takes place this Tuesday 22 May at 9:35 pm on RTÉ One, where Miriam O’Callaghan and David McCullagh will host the national broadcaster’s final television referendum debate before the country goes to vote on Friday.

The specially extended broadcast will see representatives from both sides of the campaign go head-to-head before a live studio audience.

Speaking on behalf of the Yes vote will be Minister for Health Simon Harris TD and Professor Mary Higgins, consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for Together For Yes.

Opposing them and representing the No side will be solicitor and Love Both campaigner Cora Sherlock alongside Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín.

In addition, Prime Time is set to feature contributions from the 90-strong studio audience.

On Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appeared on The Last Word with Matt Cooper on Today FM, where he argued that the constitution “needs to be changed.”

“What we do is we export our problems and import our solutions. I don’t think it’s sustainable. It needs to be changed,” he said.

“We’ve allowed abortion to continue by just turning a blind eye and I don’t think that’s right. That’s not what a modern society should do,” Varadkar added.

The Taoiseach ended the conversation by saying he expected the majority of TDs, on both sides, will respect the public vote and that those who back the No campaign will not obstruct legislation if there is a Yes majority.

Prime Time – The Referendum Debate takes place this Tuesday 22 May at 9:35pm on RTÉ One