Questions and Answers (TV series)

Questions and Answers
The final title card of the programme when it ended in 2009
Genre	current affairs
Presented by	John Bowman (1988–2009) Olivia O'Leary (1986–1988)
Country of origin	Ireland
Original language(s)	English
Production
Location(s)	Studio 2, RTÉ Television Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	45–60 minutes
Release
Original network	RTÉ One
Original release	2 November 1986 – 29 June 2009
Chronology
Followed by	The Frontline
External links
Website

Questions and Answers is a topical debate television programme broadcast in Ireland for 23 years between 1986 and 2009.

Similar in format to the BBC television programme Question Time), it originally aired on Sunday nights but later moved to Monday nights when it was usually shown at 10.30 pm. The first two series were presented by Olivia O'Leary; however, John Bowman took over as chairperson for all subsequent series.

Broadcast on RTÉ One, the show typically featured politicians from large political parties as well as public figures who answered questions put to them by the audience. The final edition aired on 29 June 2009.Director-General of RTÉ Cathal Goan described the programme as an "integral part of the national conversation for over 20 years". It was replaced by The Frontline, a series hosted by Pat Kenny.

The programme, was launched in the late 1980s. Each week the chairperson initiates a discussion between several prominent politicians and commentators. The discussion is led by questions asked by members of the audience. The first question will usually deal with the major political issue of the week. The final question is often a trivial or comic question.

Questions and Answers was usually broadcast from the RTÉ television complex in Donnybrook, Dublin with only occasional broadcasts from around Ireland.

It was broadcast at 22:30, although one edition which was broadcast at 21:30 drew comment from Declan Lynch in the Irish Independent who wondered if it was "a gesture to the poor ould fellas who might have some chance of staying awake past the first question".

For its first decade the programme was taped for broadcast from approximately 19:00 on the night of transmission. From the late 1990s, however, the programme was broadcast live, with phoned-in or emailed-in comments from viewers read out on air.