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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Katie Gallagher

RTE receive two complaints and 41 calls and emails over Claire Byrne Live show that left Mary Lou lost for words

RTE received two complaints and 41 calls and emails over the Claire Byrne Live show that left Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald unimpressed.

The show on Monday night saw the leading opposition party discussed by voters and those against them in a fiery debate.

Eddie Hobbs was amongst the guests arguing against Sinn Fein's proposals while TD Matt Carthy was defending his party and their proposals to solve the housing crisis among other things.

Mary Lou McDonald was left lost for words following the episode, tweeting: "Words fail me, Good night. RTE."

And the channel revealed to the Irish Mirror on Tuesday that they had received two formal complaints about the programme while 41 people either emailed in or called the broadcaster about the debate - of which they say just two were negative.

The show was watched by an average of 242,000 people on RTE One with a 36% share of available audience.

Housing was the big issue on the night and Eddie Hobbs was a guest on the show to discuss Sinn Fein's plans on how to solve the current crisis.

Monday's Claire Byrne Live discussed 'The Rise of Sinn Fein'. (RTE)

He told Claire Byrne: "It's quite clear from the Sinn Fein manifesto that we are going to eventually destroy the engine of the economic growth that we've got.

"The idea we can fix the housing problem but push all of this taxation through is a nonsense."

Hitting back at that, Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy said: "It's not true. Sinn Fein have put forward on an annual basis alternative budget propositions to government that outline how we can actually make a difference in terms of housing provision...healthcare, how we can actually fund all that."

Sinn Fein TD John Brady who was watching at home added: "So #RTÉ bring on Eddie Hobbs to attack Sinn Fein and warn about our ‘threat’ to the economy. Not sure he’s the best to give any financial advice, or indeed political advice, how’s Renua going?"

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