Many viewers were left angry after the RTÉ debate.
The Referendum Special on Claire Byrne Live aired last night with just over a week before the referendum is to take place on Friday, May 25.
Campaigners from both the Yes campaign and No campaign appeared on the show to discuss the issue, with representatives from Together For Yes, Holles Street hospital, and the Iona Institute all taking part.
However, the debate left many viewers at home furious due to disruption from the audience for the continued clapping and cheering throughout the discussion.
Tune into the Claire Byrne Live Referendum Special
Tonight at 9.35pm on @RTEOne #CBLive pic.twitter.com/MYlMwF0UIV— RTÉ ClaireByrneLive (@ClaireByrneLive) May 14, 2018
The show was trending number one on Twitter in Ireland for the night and continues to be a huge discussion on social media this morning.
The majority of viewers felt that producers should have taken control of the audience after many said they “cut across” the debate.
Viewers were left angry after audience members in support of a ‘No’ vote cheered and clapped for the No campaigners on the stage as they spoke throughout the show, with many choosing to eventually turn it off as a result, calling it “disrespectful” and “hurtful”.
I have great respect for Claire Byrne but her team let her down tonight – the show was poorly planned, disorganised & quite frankly like a circus.
This kind of TV does not serve the public who wish to be informed of the facts and evidence. #cbLive #8thref
— Sen Catherine Noone (@senatornoone) May 14, 2018
Disastrous ‘debate’. Horrendous to see the whooping and hollering with so many people like Gerry and Gaye Edwards who have been through the most traumatic experiences present in the audience. #cblive
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) May 14, 2018
Car crash ‘debate’ by the Claire Byrne Show on RTE last night. Biased for No… why was hollering and whooping allowed throughout by No side instead of rational debate? #CBLive #8thref #Repealthe8th #dubw
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) May 15, 2018
My thoughts are with the women in Ireland grappling with a crisis pregnancy or a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality and had to watch a crowd whoop and holler against their right to access safe, legal healthcare at home. A profoundly unedifying spectacle. #CBLive
— ⭐ amy o’connor ⭐ (@amyohconnor) May 14, 2018
I was in the audience tonight. Not one ordinary woman affected by the 8th got a chance to speak. The doctors did & lawyers too. The no side treated it like a kind of sick pantomime. It’s our lives, our health on the line yet not one woman hurt by the 8th given a chance. #cblive
— Carly Bailey (@CarlyBee25) May 14, 2018
I’m a mother who had an illegal abortion. I’m a mother who nearly died from my most recent pregnancy. There is not a shred of consideration for us from many on #CBlive from many in studio. I can’t even begin to describe the sickening hurt. Think RTE should provide a support line.
— Sinéad Redmond (@sineadredmond) May 14, 2018
As a person who had an abortion I feel sick watching @rte tonight. We’ll look back at this referendum & be deeply ashamed. It’s not right. What I needed to do when I had a crisis was nobody’s business but my own. So much healing needs to happen when this is all over. #CBLive
— Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) May 14, 2018
The Iona “Institute” of which Maria Steen is part of, talk about protecting children and mothers, yet they actively campaigned against the rights of children of gay couples during the marriage equality referendum. They certainly didn’t care about children then. #cblive
— Una Mullally (@UnaMullally) May 14, 2018
Watching #cblive is making me so angry
All I can think of is the people whose lives have been devastated by the 8th amendment
To see this whooping NO audience and these people clapping for lies is heinous while knowing what Irish people have gone through
— Rosanna Cooney (@RosannaCooney) May 14, 2018
Make the clapping stop. It’s neither the place nor the topic for whooping and hollering. #CBLive
— Kevin Doyle (@KevDoyle_Indo) May 14, 2018
I’ve turned #CBlive off.. what a mess!
I’d hate to be a woman in Ireland! We’ve treated them like absolute scum over the years! Awful! #repealthe8th @Together4yes
— CROSSY (@CrossyTweets) May 14, 2018
If you want to catch up on the special episode of the show, you can catch it on the RTÉ Player now.