2 January – Jim Mitchell is appointed Minister for Communications with responsibility for broadcasting.
February – Charlie Bird becomes the first reporter on RTÉ Television to prevent a news item via satellite when he reports from the Philippines on the imprisonment, trial and subsequent release of Fr. Niall O'Brien.
1–4 June – RTÉ presents live coverage of U.S. President Ronald Reagan's visit to Ireland. RTÉ sends twice-daily newsfeeds to Eurovision for world distribution during the visit. The coverage includes an interview with Reagan recorded in Washington for the programme Today Tonight and a special edition of Newstime which is broadcast on U.S. television.
