Danny from Armagh asks our fourth question.

He asks: "Has taking sides in the conflict in the Middle East become another divisive form of identity politics or do you feel it aligns with national interests?”

Claire Graham
BBC News NI's GE2024 social media reporter

Why are Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill and the UUP leader Doug Beattie not on the stage?

It's question being raised on social media platforms, and there are lots of opinions on the matter.

Some saying they feel it’s fair, given they aren’t running in the election.

Prof Jon Tonge from University of Liverpool is left wondering about UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler’s explanation for Mr Beattie’s inability to attend the debate at the BBC in Belfast.

"I’m curious about Doug Beattie’s ‘diary commitments’ now", he said on X.

Chris Hazzard referenced the busy campaign trail when asked about Michelle O’Neill by moderator Tara Mills.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson says he accepts that Northern Ireland is "chronically underfunded" by Westminster, but says it does "benefit from being part of the fifth largest economy in the world".

He highlights the costs attached to accessing things like healthcare in the Republic of Ireland as an example.

UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler says politicians should make Northern Ireland work so it has a more prosperous future for all.

Colum Eastwood says while he isn't calling for a border poll right now, he believes there is a need to get ready for one.

On the prospect of a united Ireland, he adds: "This for me is a very attractive proposition...This place is an economic basket case."

When questioned on a border poll, Alliance leader Naomi Long says her party "want to be part of the conversation about constitutional change".

"We are open to those conversations but what we are not going to do is vote along ideologically-driven lines".

Joel from Belfast asks our panel the third question.

He asks: "All parties and the British government acknowledge this place has been historically underfunded. So what’s the point in being part of the union?"

Alliance leader Naomi Long denies accusations from DUP leader Gavin Robinson that she misled people on whether she had been selected as a candidate for East Belfast or not.

Naomi Long says that this wasn't the case and that "this isn't an East Belfast debate".

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Was Naomi Long right when she said Stormont is "no more stable" than it was since the day power-sharing returned in February?

Technically, yes.

The nature of Stormont's structures mean that the Executive can only function with the support of both the largest unionist and nationalist parties.

For the past two years, the DUP kept the institutions down in protest over post-Brexit trade rules.

In 2017, Sinn Féin walked out of government following a dispute with the DUP, which lasted three years.

There have been minor tweaks since then to rules that give the bigger parties vetoes, but Alliance and the SDLP have been calling for large-scale reform.

Any such moves will not only require support from the next UK government, but the DUP and Sinn Féin as well.

Tonight both parties were asked if they will not bring down the institutions again, as they are jointly leading the current government at Stormont.

While the DUP and Sinn Féin largely appear to be working well together right now, on this question they declined to give a steadfast commitment.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says "it's very hard" for the public to trust political leaders "when two of them aren't even here".

"The first thing politicians around here tonight can do is all commit to not bring Stormont down again, but they won't do it," he says.

When asked why his party leader didn't take part in tonight's debate, Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard says "Michelle O'Neill will be out on canvas, I have no doubt".

Remember you can watch tonight's debate, including with British sign language, by clicking the tabs and links at the top of this page.

The Alliance leader Naomi Long says: "The collapse of the Assembly has damaged our public services."

She adds that "it has damaged public confidence, because people now know our Stormont as it stands today is no more stable than the day before it collapsed the last time".

The DUP leader Gavin Robinson defends the DUP's decision to withdraw from government.

"We would far rather government had not come down at all and people recognise this place works properly and positively on the basis of consensus."

He insists the party wants to "build on the good progress we have made" which he says "would not have been made without our stance".

Claire Graham
BBC News NI's GE2024 social media reporter

Over on social media, people are asking ‘is this an assembly election debate?’

This is, of course, a Westminster election.

But issues of health, collapse of the Assembly and institutional reform have all been discussed.

Political analyst Clare Rice posts on X:

"First topic: health

"If ever there was a subject that demonstrates how what happens re devolved matters feeds into General Elections here. This discussion is one that could easily be part of an Assembly election debate."

Carmen from Belfast asks our second question of the evening.

She asks: "How can the leaders possibly ask the public to trust them again after years of political breakdown and controversy?"

John Campbell and Marie-Louise Connolly
BBC News NI correspondents

Following the question from the audience, Gavin Robinson and Naomi Long disputed that the health service budget has been cut.

So what is the reality?

The health budget was up by 6.3% compared to the opening position last year but was down by 2.3% when compared to what was actually spent by the end of last year.

April’s budget involved the allocation of £14.5bn for day-to-day spending the Department of Health got the largest share of that- £7.76bn.

That was about 6% higher than last year's opening position but it was about £180m less than what the department actually spent by the end of last year.

Health Minister Robin Swann of the UUP said that because this year’s opening position is less than last year’s closing position his budget has been cut.

The other executive parties point out that more money will be allocated to health through reallocation exercises, known as monitoring rounds, so we don’t yet know the total size of health spending.

According to the health department, the budget was inadequate.

The Department of health has said that it was an injection of £550m from the Treasury in London that filled the hole.

While the comparisons on budget at the start and end of year are both right – the budget required injection from Westminster

Colum Eastwood says he is "all for more fiscal powers" but asks how the public will trust politicians with it if "we can't even commit to staying in government".

The UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler says the "state of the mental health of the nation is in the pits because of the politics".

Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard says Northern Ireland needs greater fiscal powers.

"If we want to transform our health service, if we want to transform public infrastructure, if we want to transform public services long-term, we need the ability to invest long-term," he says.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood answers with a question about funding for Stormont.

"Where are these decisions being taken? At Westminster," he says.

"We need to go with one single voice and ask the British government to properly fund this health service."

Naomi Long criticises the health minister, a post held by the UUP, saying they need to bring a transformation plan for the system to the Executive.

The UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler responded by saying: "The budget doesn't take into account this year's pay rise for hard working staff."

He added that "the Agenda for Change may not be met" due to the department's finances.