Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

(left to right) Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate Niall Carson/PA Wire

After a two hour long RTÉ debate from NUI Galway, we assess how each of the party leaders fared as General Election 2020 edges closer. Here are their marks out of 10:

LEO VARADKAR: 5/10

Expand Close Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire





Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was a low key presence for much of the first half of the debate and was outshone by Micheál Martin in attacks on Sinn Féin. But he deftly got over his drugs slip-up from the first debate quipping: "I’ll try to avoid a long pause this time".

He also drew a laugh when asked about one of his ministers branding some in the Green Party as "nutters" saying: "There’s a fair few nutters in every party including my own."

MICHEÁL MARTIN: 7/10

Expand Close Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Fianna Fail leader started off strong by highlighting serious concerns about Sinn Fein’s objection to special criminal court because of their links to the provisional IRA.

However, he did seem under pressure when Mary Lou McDonald attacked him for supporting Fine Gael and failing to securing his promised housing budgets. But over all it was a solid performance.

MARY LOU MCDONALD: 6/10

Expand Close Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Sinn Féin leader was on shaky ground when she compared her Ard Comhairle to a GAA club especially after Mr Martin highlighted her party’s links to the Provisional IRA. She did receive applause from the audience during the section on housing when she criticised Mr Martin and when she criticised the Taoiseach over the National Children’s Hospital.

EAMON RYAN: 3/10

Expand Close Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Green Party's Eamon Ryan was his usual thoughtful, reasoned presence, but in all likelihood bored the audience with rambling answers on housing and crime. He faces an uphill battle persuading farmers they can cut suckler cattle herds, change practices and make greater incomes.

BRENDAN HOWLIN: 4/10

Expand Close Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire

Brendan Howlin made a bid to get into the debate when he complained that the focus was on Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's rejection of a coalition deal with Sinn Féin. But it only served to highlight a depleted Labour's own likely lack of clout in the post election deal-making.

RICHARD BOYD BARRETT: 4/10

Expand Close Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire





The audience seemed to take to the People Before Profit TD especially when he was critical of the banks and Nama. However, he did seem to be playing catch up on the other left wing parties when he was trying to offer alternative polices.

RÓISÍN SHORTALL: 2/10

Expand Close Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall arrives ahead of the seven way RTE leaders debate at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) campus in Galway, Ireland. Niall Carson/PA Wire





Róisín Shortall was all but invisible for large periods of the debate. She was perhaps strongest when outlining the "barbarity" of the serious crime on Ireland's streets in recent weeks.

She argued that people want decent services and lists problems in health, housing and homelessness but the solutions being put forward by her party didn’t get much more than polite applause at the end of the night.

Online Editors