Kildare Street is where the documentary’s story starts and ends. Election spends an afternoon with the outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seán O Fearghaíl as he says farewell to the 33rd Dáil.
And when all the votes have been counted and 174 Dáil seats filled, the cameras return to Leinster House to meet the deputies, old and new, on the first day of the new Dáil.
WHEELS IN MOTION
Once the Taoiseach called the election, a citizen army mobilised against the clock to ensure that the country was ready to cast their votes on November 29th.
The programme goes behind the scenes with Cork County Returning Officer Sinéad McNamara as she and her team prepare for polling day and the count. Aidan Weir, Special Presiding Officer takes us with him as he visits a nursing home to oversee the Special Vote where elderly residents have their say in the next government formation from the security and comfort of their home.
The cameras follow Sinéad and her team in Mallow count centre as the fate of the Cork Counties’ candidates is decided upon.
In parallel, in Dublin’s RDS Count Centre, the much publicised race for seats in Dublin Central will be decided.
THE MEDIA
How do the electorate make their decisions at the polls, what informs them?
We go behind the scenes on several platforms with RTÉ as it delivers to the nation up to the minute information throughout the campaign and counts.
On the day the Taoiseach formally dissolves the Dáil, Election is at Government Buildings capturing the action, and also has access to the largest leaders’ debate on Upfront with Katie Hannon.
In print media we spend time with journalists from the Irish Times Political Team learning how news cycles and journalists’ roles in reporting on election campaigns have evolved in the digital age.
THE NEW IRISH
Viewers are introduced to Mahbooba Faiz, a lawyer who lives with her husband Hassan and their young son in Waterford, after escaping the Taliban’s regime in Afghanistan. Mahbooba gives a poignant insight into her view of Ireland’s democratic system – in stark juxtaposition to her birthplace. The family visit the Cork County Count Centre where they witness the wheels of our democracy in action, and Hassan reflects on his time as an election monitor in Afghanistan.
THE VOTERS OF TOMORROW
Leaving Cert students Seán McCooey and Sophie Abbas are very excited to cast their first vote on polling day. In anticipation of this, the audience meet them and their classmates as they visit Leinster House to participate in a Democracy Workshop. On polling day Seán is up early to tend to the cattle on his family farm in Monaghan before he makes his way to his local polling centre to cast that all important first time vote. Meanwhile in Tallaght, having just turned 18, Sophie also chooses her candidate at the ballot box.
These stories give viewers a glimpse into the issues that matter for this generation, the voters and potential leaders of tomorrow, and their views on politics.
Narrated by ARDAL O’HANLON: the son of a long serving TD and former Minister and Ceann Comhairle: Dr. Rory O’Hanlon.
Watch ELECTION on Thursday January 23rd at 22.15, on RTÉONE
ENDS
Date: Jan 08 2024
More images available on request.
For further information, images or to request interviews please contact: info@loosehorse.ie
ELECTION’ was supported by Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Fund in association with Oireachtas TV.