The first round of the Irish Times Debates competition has been completed, with only two colleges from outside Dublin having reached the semi-finals. The Law Society and the Philosoph from UCC and the Debating Union from UL are the only teams from outside the capital left in the competition.

TCD and UCD are well represented as usual. Trinity's Historical, Philosophical and Law societies have seen seven of their teams progress to the penultimate stage. UCD's L&H and Law societies provide another three of the teams, while the two teams representing the King's Inns are made up of former Belfield debaters. The Solicitors and Apprentices Debating Society provides the last of the 16 teams to reach the semi-finals.

Also in the semi-finals are 16 individuals. UCD's L&H and Law societies provide four of the individual semi-finalists, TCD Law Soc and Phil provide a further three, while the two individuals from the King's Inns have survived the first round. NUI Galway, Waterford IT, UCC, DCU and NUI Maynooth are home to the remaining individual semi-finalists.