MORE than 800,000 tuned into TV3 for the first toe-to-toe live leaders' debate of General Election 2016.
:: If any politicians needed a little ego boost TV3 helped - a peak of 502,000 people watched Thursdays' debate just after 10pm.
:: The Taoiseach appeared to have more than a bounce in his step as he was marshalled through a handful of rowdy anti-water charge protesters in Cork, one of the cities where opposition has been most staunch.
:: His focus was on the recent gangland crime while Fianna Fáil, emboldened by their leader's performance on TV, pushed their childcare offerings.
:: Labour tried to regain ground lost from criticisms over health policy, promising to get more GPs, paramedics and nurses on the payroll and to cut the cost of prescriptions.
:: Sinn Féin focused on commitments to create jobs while Gerry Adams pressed the flesh in what is now firmly his home turf, Co Louth. Mr Adams was back on the campaign trail after an ill-tempered exchange between him and Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin during Thursday night's debate in which Mr Martin hit out over the disappearance of Jean McConville and the "kneecapping of thousands of people".
:: The Greens, said to be making a revival under Eamon Ryan who is a solid candidate for a seat in Dublin South, launched their manifesto with a focus on green economy and a 30 billion euro semi-state plan to build renewables.
:: Alone, a charity which supports older people living at home, urged the next government to appoint a minister for older people and to keep State pension increases ahead of inflation.
:: And with the halfway point in the campaign fast approaching, the Right2Water movement revealed a line-up of professors, politicians and NGOs including former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis for tomorrow in Dublin's Mansion House to promote the anti-water charge campaign.
:: Elsewhere, Labour was criticised by trade union Unite for using a building site, where representatives have been raising issues over workers' pay, for a party launch.
