DUP leader Gavin Robinson takes issue with audience member Kellie's question.

He denies there is a £184m cut to the health budget, saying the amount quoted represents "figure end-of year from last year, rather than the start".

He says there has since been an allocation of £450m to the Department of Health and that his party has highlighted that "Northern Ireland doesn't get sufficient funding to provide public service that we need".

To watch the debate with British sign language, click the watch & listen tab at the top of this page.

Kellie from Belfast asks the first question of the evening.

"How do the parties justify voting to cut the health service budget by £184m?"

The election leaders' debate, hosted by BBC NI's Tara Mills, has started.

To watch along, click play at the top of this page.

The five largest Northern Ireland parties have published their manifestos, setting out their policies and priorities if their candidates are elected.

Some of those issues will come up tonight during the debate.

So, what are they promising you?

You can see some of those policies in key areas – as well as comparing between parties – using the BBC's interactive policy guide here.

This time next week the ballot boxes will be about to close and we'll be much closer to knowing the fate of our 18 seats.

That means there's much at stake in tonight's debate.

The five politicians know they can't afford any mistakes from their respective podiums.

It's impossible to know if TV debates can change how people use their vote.

So far, it's been a lacklustre campaign. What's to come in the next hour may or may not change that statement.

Mason from Newtownabbey says he's curious about where the politicians stand on a number of issues, including transgender subjects.

"I also want to hear how the parties will create economic conditions that satisfy all communities on the island. And what they have to say about housing and net zero policies," he told BBC News NI.

Wendy from Portadown, who is part of tonight's audience, says she wants to hear specific plans for how the parties will achieve the proposals set out in their manifestos.

"I work in special needs education, so education and health are really important to me," she told BBC News NI.

"Also cross-community initiatives as a source of healing, we are very need of that, 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement and I don’t think we are where we should be," she said.

Image source, Press Eye/PA

The first TV debate of the campaign was shown on UTV on Sunday.

It featured the same line-up, with the exception of the Sinn Féin representative, who was Westminster candidate John Finucane.

There were clashes over the DUP’s deal to return to Stormont, Irish unity and decisions by both Sinn Féin and the DUP to withdraw from Stormont in 2017 and 2022 respectively.

There was also a dispute between Gavin Robinson and Naomi Long over the Alliance Party leader’s decision to attend a conference on Irish unity before pulling out.

She defended her position, saying she had been busy campaigning, not "hiding".

Read more here.

Why will the politicians be standing where they are?

Well, earlier this evening our presenter Tara Mills and producer Darran Marshall drew lots...

Robbie Butler, UUP deputy leader, Gavin Robinson, DUP leader and Naomi Long, Alliance Party leader, have also arrived ahead of tonight's debate.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Sinn Féin Westminster candidate Chris Hazzard are among the first politicians to arrive at the BBC's studio.

Some of tonight's audience has started to arrive at the BBC's studio.

Joan from Bessbrook says she is looking forward to see what the politicians will be saying about health.

"I’ve had ME for 25 years and I’ve never been able to see a specialist in Northern Ireland," she said.

"When you haven’t got your health you don’t have anything and nothing else matters."

Much of the daily governance of Northern Ireland comes from Stormont, where elected assembly members and Executive ministers oversee matters such as healthcare, education and justice.

The funding to run these departments comes from the block grant, a set amount of money Northern Ireland receives from the UK Treasury.

Some further funding streams can come to Northern Ireland as a result of other UK government policy decisions.

Image source, Getty Images

There are several issues which remain reserved and are not dealt with at Stormont. These include defence matters, immigration and most taxation issues.

Northern Ireland’s 18 MPs can vote, take part in debates, propose law through private members’ bills and scrutinise issues on Westminster committees.

They also provide other local representation through constituency offices.

Read more here.

Voters across the UK will go to the polls this day next week, Thursday 4 July.

In Northern Ireland, 18 candidates will be returned to make up the 650-member House of Commons, based at Westminster.

In a general election, X marks the spot. Voters can only vote for one candidate who is standing in their constituency.

The system is called first-past-the-post, meaning whoever gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area.

The deadlines have already passed to register to vote or to apply for a postal ballot or proxy vote.

If you have received your polling card it will tell you which polling station to attend, between 07:00 and 22:00 on 4 July.

Valid ID will be needed, such as a passport, driving licence, or older or disabled person’s bus pass.

Read more here.

Image source, PA Media

The five largest parties in Northern Ireland have been invited to take part in the debate – three of the parties have chosen to send their leaders to take part.

They are Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson, Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long.

Sinn Féin has put forward Westminster candidate Chris Hazzard and the Ulster Unionist Party will be represented by deputy leader Robbie Butler.

There will be representation from the smaller parties on BBC Newsline following the debate.

Each of Northern Ireland’s five largest parties will be represented in the programme which begins at 21:00 BST.

You can watch the programme, during which the audience will ask questions, by clicking play at the top of this page.

A British sign language version can also be viewed.

Later, during BBC Newsline at 22:30 you can hear from some of Northern Ireland’s smaller parties.

Welcome to our coverage of the BBC Northern Ireland general election leaders’ debate.