Almost one million people tuned in last night to watch Taoiseach Bertie Ahern slug it out with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in the leaders' debate.
On average 941,000 viewers looked on — less than one third of registered voters.
RTÉ said the special Prime Timeprogramme secured 63 per cent of the national audience.
The State broadcaster said the audience figure compared favourably with the heated 2002 debate between Mr Ahern and former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan which was watched by 835,000 people.
That head to head saw plenty of sparks fly as Mr Noonan launched a personal attack on the Taoiseach.
In 1997, 757,000 tuned in to watch the debate between Mr Ahern and John Bruton.
Last night's debate, chaired by Miriam O'Callaghan, achieved a reach of 1.4 million throughout the course of the programme out of 3 million people registered to vote.
The previous night's debate with Labour's Pat Rabbitte, Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, Trevor Sargent of the Greens and PD leader Michael McDowell attracted just over half a million viewers.
Even though it was much livelier and saw taunts traded between the leaders it only managed an audience of 581,000, a 38.4 per cent share.
PA