Virgin Media Television reports that 670,000 viewers tuned in to watch the first head-to-head debate between Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on Virgin Media One on Wednesday night, with a further 40,000 live streams. Hosted by Pat Kenny, the 80-minute debate had an average audience of 325,400.
VMTV will broadcast a second debate next Thursday, with leaders of the seven main political parties involved. Labour’s Brendan Howlin, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Solidarity’s and the Social Democrats will take part in the debate which this time will be moderated by Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates.
