The Frontline is a topical debate television programme in Ireland, which aired for 60 minutes every Monday night on RTÉ One at 22:30.

[14] It won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards in February 2010.

[24] Steve Carson, head of programming in RTÉ Television, said the programme wouldn't be a replica of the old format.

[4] The first programme had guests such as Eamon Dunphy, Fintan O'Toole, Pat Farrell, Tom Parlon and Brian Lenihan, Minister for Finance.

[21] Lenihan talked about the proposed National Asset Management Agency and the purchase of €28 billion in loans from Anglo Irish Bank.

[13] In November 2009, the viewership was reduced to 333,000, less than the 493,000 received by The Apprentice on TV3[14] When George Lee appeared on the programme explaining his resignation from politics on 8 February 2010, the viewing figures were at 627,000.

[32] On 2 November 2009, Jack O'Connor of SIPTU suggested that in the 2010 budget, "a reasonable level of tax" should be placed on "Trophy Houses".

[10] The following week (9 November 2009), during an interview with Mary Hanafin, Alan O'Brien (who has a conviction from 2006 for incitement to hatred[34]), a member of the audience, spent three minutes accusing Kenny of "pontificating and moralising" people on social welfare, despite being in receipt of a €600,000 salary.

[35] Then referring to a previous court case involving Kenny, he concluded by saying, "Now I am going to sue an old woman for a field because I feel I might make a million or more."

[36] A tweet was read out by Pat Kenny which caused Seán Gallagher, ahead on opinion polling, to falter on live television.

[38] During the debate held on 21 May 2012 concerning the Irish European Fiscal Compact referendum, Pat Kenny got down on his hands and knees and shouted at a farmer in the audience to shut up.

[11] Patrick Freyne of the Sunday Tribune described the programme, in his television review column, as "the People versus A Bunch of Bastards".

[42] Hilary Fannin writing in The Irish Times, predicted that the programme, in relation to the economy, "will [not] be allowed to debate much else in the months to come".

[42][43] Sarah Carey, also in The Irish Times, was disappointed by the tone of the programme even though Kenny was "thoroughly enjoying himself".

[45] Future President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, then a Labour Party TD, said in February 2010 that The Frontline "degrade[d] politics" and called it a "really bad programme".