The audience peaked at over 1 million (1,098,100) at 10pm while over 1.5million individuals tuned in at some stage during the show.
The 2007 head to head debate (Kenny V Ahern) was seen by an average of 940,900 people.

TV3's debate averaged 339,100 people with a peak of 511,900.
It is TG4's turn tonight, while the final Leaders' Debate will be on RTÉ next Tuesday.

Interestingly the debate proved more popular, relatively speaking, in The rest of Leinster & Connacht/Ulster regions (both averaged 30 adult TVR's- see chart).

A new development this time around was the impact of social media especially Twitter and Facebook.
Thejournal.ie have a fascinating analysis of the traffic on twitter provided by Clarity.

http://www.thejournal.ie/twitter-tracker/


 TV Source: TAM Ireland Ltd/Nielsen TAM, Live + VOSDAL data, National Individuals
 (VOSDAL is those who recorded the show and viewed it on the same day).