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McCormack-Eiffe continues by saying she knows what students want. She mentions microwaves and late night busses as things she would fight for. She also touches on the "extortionate" rent prices facing students. She says she has the knowledge and experience to be president.

Michael Roche takes the microphone. "For too long, this university has been too focused on profit". He says students are "being ripped off through the backdoor" and says there's too many private contracts on campus. Speaking passionately, he says UCD has become "pay-to-play".

Continuing, Roche says "simply put, the students do not believe the union has been delivering for them". Speaking on the recent banner unveiled by the SU, he says with two months to go in the year, all we've gotten is a housing campaign of "a Whatsapp group and a cotton sheet".

Roche says the UCD Ball should be renamed to the "UCD Small Intimate Gathering". He continues to speak against the current UCDSU and says "my opponents represent the status quo, I represent change". A large applause meets his closing line: "let us take back the union".

Cullen is asked what her number one priority would be. "My manifesto is very ambitious but the main priority for me is to empower students". She says its not her job to make the union everything she wants it to be, but it is her job to represent the students.

Chair Niall Torris asks Cullen about claims that people who run for SU are more interested in their own CV than student activism. "Students should vote for me because I genuinely care". She mentions that she is still a student and still has to complete her final year.

McCormack-Eiffe is asked what her top priority would be. "My top priority is making sure that students have an affordable and safe place to live".

McCormack-Eiffe is criticised by the chair for failing to follow through on certain things during the past year. She disagrees and says she is the right person to yield the resources of the union. She "deeply, deeply promises" that next year she will take continuous feedback.

The chair mentions Roche's experience within LnH society and the UCD Youth Branch of Fianna Fail. He asks Roche what his top priority will be. "My top priority has to be engagement". His campaign is about building back the trust that has been lost in the union.

Roche says the SU has very poor representation in the Irish government. He says he already has a good relationship with the Minister for Education and that he's had a drink with nearly every member of the cabinet.

The chair mentions Roche's overshooting and undershooting of financial figures throughout his campaign. The chair appears to claim that the UCD Youth Branch of Fianna Fail has historically caused financial troubles for UCDSU.

Responding the the chair's comments, Roche says he has already done more for financial transparency than the Union has ever before. "I will make a revolution of transparency". He also points out he was a child when those former members of UCD's Fianna Fail group caused issues.

The UO asks Roche how realistic his housing goals are. "It's definitely a fair question". He says its former UCD President Andrew Deeks' fault that housing is so expensive in UCD. He says we need to push for a high rise version of Merville, instead of more Village accommodation.

McCormack-Eiffe answers a question from the UO, and says there hasn't been a lack of direct action when it comes to housing, citing the Student Union Action Group for Housing.

Roche is asked about his plan to end the Wright Group's contract in UCD Village, which currently manages Centra. He says a cheaper alternative is needed for students and that he will get to the table with the Wright Group for the negotiations of their contract renewal.

Unsurprisingly, lots of questions for tonight's candidates from the crowd...

Q: What would you do to protect the union from Government Interference? Roche says his relationship with government members will help. Cullen says she's not there to make friends, she's there to advocate for students. Saskia says she's not there to be friends with politicians.

A question from the crowd is pointed at McCormack-Eiffe. "How do you justify running for President if you failed to engage in meetings that you were contractually obliged to be in?" Saskia says she has familial commitments and that these meetings do not fall within her hours.

Michael Roche says there's been confusion about what his campaign is about, and says his goal is to "fundamentally fixing the union so that it is strong enough to run for another fifty years".

And just like that, #Hustings2025 comes to a close. Thanks for coming along for the ride, and check out the University Observer Instagram story for some slightly more serious observations on tonight's proceedings. Articles will be up shortly on UniversityObserver.ie