Viewers voiced their opinions for both sides of the referendum well into the night.
On Friday night, 28 April, Ryan Tubridy invited a number of guests on to The Late Late Show in order to bring about the first televised debate over the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the constitution.
From viewers’ reactions, the person most talked about following the end of the debate was Doctor Peter Boylan, the former Master of the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, and is currently the chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In the week leading up to the show, the Save The Eighth campaigners had called on Doctor Boylan to resign from his position, launching a petition on their website as a reaction to comments he had made in an interview recently in Hot Press Magazine.
At the time of writing, RTE have not yet provided any video links on their YouTube or Twitter channels to any of the discussions between the guests on the show regarding the debate, but the online reaction between viewers is still ongoing:
https://twitter.com/rmcg2799/status/989988487221870594
I felt the @RTELateLateShow was calm and respectful and @RyanTubridyShow did a good job at moderating. I'm starting to really get the feeling that most Irish people are feeling that this legislation goes too far #8thAmendment #latelate
— Wendy Grace (@wendyannegrace) April 28, 2018
Calm, reasoned, evidence based logic from YES vs emotive manipulative falsehoods from people who seek to impose their personal and religious moral views on others from NO…Well done Dr Peter Boylan and #repealthe8th side. #VoteYes #8thref #latelate #LateLateShow
— Adam Long 🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@adamlong80) April 28, 2018
Aaaaand the #LateLateShow completes a catastrophic week for the Government's #AbortionRef campaign, with #repealers losing the debate comprehensively to Caroline Simons & Wendy Grace. #VoteNo
— Paddy Manning ن (@PaddyJManning) April 27, 2018
I don’t understand how this woman from the No campaign in the audience has been affected by the 8th amendment. She chose to have her baby. #latelateshow
— Emer McLysaght 🏳️⚧️ (@EmerTheScreamer) April 27, 2018
This is a debate about healthcare between an obstetrician and a GP on one side, and a presenter of a religious radio station and failed election campaign manager on the other. That should probably say enough in itself #LateLateShow
— Naoise Falafel 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 (@naoisefalafel) April 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/UnaMullally/status/989999301651763200
Boylan is a liar. No women have died as a result of the 8th. He needs to resign. Savita hubby says don't use her death to push abortion in Ireland. Boylan has no respect. #SaveThe8th #VoteNo #LateLateShow
— Any Peefa (@Lovebeingmammy) April 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/IamJustice_LY/status/989985771447898113
https://twitter.com/EmeraldKC/status/989979052378394624
In terms of campaign strategy the No side made a serios error with the mother in the #latelateshow audience who didn't have a passport and then whose abortion pills didn't arrive in the post. Such a weak tale
— Alan Mulvey 🌻 (@al70) April 28, 2018
