James Cox
The final leaders' debate aired on RTÉ on Tuesday night, and much like the current opinion polls, there was little between the three party leaders.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald all put in more reserved performances than viewers are used to.
With so much riding on the debate, it seemed all three leaders were reluctant to go all out for a killer blow.
Here, we have a look at the performances of the three leaders.
Simon Harris
The debate was perhaps more important to the Taoiseach than his two rivals, and Mr Harris certainly had the most to lose.
Mr Harris apologised over the weekend for his handling of the discussion with Charlotte Fallon while canvassing in Kanturk in Co Cork on Friday evening.
The exchange went viral after a clip on RTÉ news, and it has damaged the Taoiseach with Fine Gael suffering a six-point slump in the latest opinion polls.
At the beginning of the debate, Mr Harris was challenged over claims that a member of the party had contacted RTÉ in an attempt to stop the clip airing.
“I have no knowledge of that whatsoever, because this clip was entirely appropriate,” said Mr Harris.
“It was a very important moment on the campaign.
“And RTÉ and indeed many media outlets have been with me throughout the campaign, covering many interactions that I’ve had with many, many people right across this country.”
Mr Harris started slowly enough, appearing uncomfortable when he was not speaking. He also toned down his attacks on his rivals, particularly Ms McDonald, in what may well have been a deliberate strategy.
However, his performance improved in the second half of the debate.
When Ms McDonald repeated the “Tweedledee and Tweedledum", characterisation of Mr Martin and Mr Harris (which she has used before), the Taoiseach replied: "Come on now, you can do better than this. You’ve had five years to come up with a new line.”
When the issue of justice came up, particularly in relation to the Dublin riots, Mr Harris doubled down on criticism of Sinn Féin's motions of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
Mr Harris made reference to the fact that former Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris had, in 2009, collected Garda killer Pearse McAuley from the gates of prison after his release.
“I think there will be many Garda families at home finding it quite sickening that Mary Lou McDonald is now the champion of An Garda Síochána. That’s the first thing.
“I’m not ready to take a lecture from you on law and order. My party has never had a TD who has collected a Garda killer from the gates of prison. First point.
“Second point is this – your position was to immediately blame the head of the guards rather than the rioters, and you carried out a press conference at a crime scene. That was your approach. How do I use this to my political advantage? That was your approach. And the public saw right through it.”
On mental health, he said there was a five-year plan supported by his party, and accused Ms McDonald of not taking the issue seriously as tensions rose.
At one point he said he had only been seven months in the Taoiseach's Office, however, Ms McDonald has a quick response as she asked him how long he had been in Cabinet.
Unsurprisingly, with government formation undoubtedly at the back of their minds, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste didn't attack each other too often.
However, Mr Harris did get one swipe in at Mr Martin, as he said "my party has never crashed the economy, and my party has helped pick this country up off its knees".
His pledge to bring people back from Australia came across as a bit strange, but undoubtedly grabbed attention.
Overall, Mr Harris' performance was steady and he avoided any further damage after the Kanturk exchange.
Fine Gael strategists will be unhappy with his constant muttering while the other candidates were talking though, as it comes off as petty and unprofessional.
Mary Lou McDonald
While the “Tweedledee and Tweedledum" jibe came off a bit flat, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also had the best one-liner of the night.
When Mr Harris brought up the financial crash, she was very quick off the mark.
“You brought the crash,” Ms McDonald said, pointing to Mr Martin, “and you brought austerity,” she said, pointing to Mr Harris.
'Change the government' has been Sinn Féin's main slogan in the closing stages of the general election campaign, and Ms McDonald was effective in attacking the record of the coalition leaders.
At one point, she accused the Government of not understanding the scale of the challenges people are facing.
"I think it is shameful that you cannot walk the length of yourself in any town, village, community, without meeting parents, mothers desperate and frantic, because not alone can they not get an assessment of need, they can get no support for their children.
"You don't seem even capable to hear people and hear their experiences."
She showed clear empathy with those suffering from the housing and cost-of-living crises, adding that her party would offer an alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil rule. Many viewers felt she faced the toughest questioning from hosts Sarah McInerney and Miriam O'Callaghan, but she more than stood her ground on various issues.
Her weakest point was Sinn Féin's proposed housing plan.
She was unclear when asked about banks' reported reluctance to offer mortgages under the proposed housing scheme.
“Well, we’ve engaged with the banks. The banks have requirements that will have to be met. I don’t think anybody should be shocked by that. They’re not some kind of Robin Hood institution giving money away. We’re absolutely confident that those requirements will be met.”
Micheál Martin
Mr Martin came into the debate in the best position, as the polls suggest his party is in line for the most TDs in the next Dáil.
He appeared to be attempting to portray himself as the most mature and balanced of the three candidates, but at times his temper showed.
Like Mr Harris, he appeared to be making a concerted effort to avoid talking over his rivals, but he looked visibly annoyed at times when Ms McDonald was setting out her points.
He also bristled at Ms O'Callaghan's question about his refusal to consider a coalition with Sinn Féin, labelling the question "extraordinary".
Mr Martin did not go after potential coalition partner Mr Harris too much, but did criticised Fine Gael's position on mental health in its manifesto, saying it did not provide for "one additional staff recruitment, while we provide for 25,000".
He agreed with Ms McDonald that the State lost control during the Dublin riots of November 2023, which is unsurprising as Fianna Fáil has made its target of claiming the justice portfolio clear.
He conceded he was in government during the crash, to which Ms McDonald replied "I know", with Mr Martin quickly adding: "I’ve learned from it, I’ve learned from the experience.”
On housing, he said the foundations are in place for 60,000 homes a year by 2030.
Mr Martin was far less combative than he usually is in debates, but the strategy worked for him, and he may well have been the happiest of the three leaders coming out of the debate.
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