Michael Clifford: We’re still none the wiser after party leaders’ first TV debate

THEY came, they smiled, they debated — and we all went home none the wiser. Last night, the nation held its breath, paddled away from Love Island, and tuned into the celebrity death match between Leo and Micheál.

The election campaign TV debate set-piece has entered the annals as a game changer. And last night it was the Taoiseach who badly needed something to change the game. He is lagging in the opinion polls. The seductive notion of change appears to be taking a grip among the electorate. A third term for Fine Gael has never looked as shaky.