Published Friday, 22 April 2011
DUP leader Peter Robinson, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, UUP leader Tom Elliott, Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP and the Alliance Party's David Ford debated the key issues on Thursday night - with sparks flying more than once.
Mr Robinson and Mr Elliott clashed over education, exposing a clear rife within unionism, with the UUP later alleging DUP support for Sinn Féin's Caitríona Ruane and Conor Murphy.
"Even you, Peter - you said 'Oh, the Minister for Education's great!'" Mr Elliott declared.
"I said nothing of the sort," Mr Robinson fired back. "Nothing of the sort was said - simply talking over me doesn't change the facts. Show me the quote. Show me the quote."
Mr Elliott responded: "I'll show you the quote, but you know you said it!"
"It's a lie - an absolute unmitigated lie," Mr Robinson insisted.
Caught right in the middle, Martin McGuinness let the row go over his head after having earlier been on the receiving end of Mr Elliot's criticism.
Tackling the issue of the dissident threat, the UUP leader claimed: "There are some people within the mainstream republican movement that I believe have the information that would help solve some of these murders (by dissidents) - some of the people within the mainstream Sinn Féin are actually former colleagues of these dissidents ... They must give them up."
But Mr McGuinness branded the accusation a "cheap political point".
He added: "The police service, north and south of the border, know more about these people than any of us standing on this podium. These people can only succeed if we fail - we don't intend to fail. We are going to stand together and ultimately we are the people who will prevail."
When the debate turned to the issue of introducing water charges as a way to raise revenue for cash-strapped Northern Ireland, it was the DUP leader's turn to go on the attack.
The Alliance Party's David Ford suggested water charges were "realistic" and that it was a case of 'when' charges should be brought in, not 'if'.
Mr Robinson responded angrily, stating that "people are paying enough - they can't afford to pay any more".
But Mr Ford insisted: "We need to be preparing and recognising that a fair way of paying for water, which also takes allowance for the reduction which is happening in rates, needs to be done."
The party leaders also discussed the possibility of government reform, with SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie calling for OFMDFM to be streamlined down to a cabinet office and adding that there should only be one economic policy unit.
"Is that because you're never going to be back in it again?" Mr Robinson quipped.
"Oh now, Peter ... Oh now, Peter," Ms Ritchie said. "Can I say, you were probably glad to see the back of me when I left the DSD because I was a thorn in your flesh."
Later other parties took part in a studio debate chaired by UTV Live Tonight's Paul Clark.
The TUV's Jim Allister, UKIP's Henry Reilly, Steven Agnew of the Green Party and Eamonn McCann of the People Before Profit also had their say on the key issues of the election campaign, ahead of polling day.