WHAT WAS DIFFERENT this time round to previous general election debates? Well, there’s the presence of social commentary online by our elected representatives, for one.

While last night’s RTÉ debate was getting into full swing, people were engaging in the debate through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Political parties have copped on to it this time round, with election campaign expenditure pumping funds into their online presence.

And it seems there is a concerted effort by Fine Gael to keep everyone on the same page.

TheJournal.ie’s reporter Nicky Ryan noticed something odd between Charlie Flanagan’s and Frances Fitzgerald’s tweets during the live debate.

Their tweets were pretty much word for word the same.

It wasn’t just Flangan and Fitzgerald that seemed to be singing off the same hymn sheet. Paschal Donohoe and James Reilly were at it too.

Coincidence or concerted social media campaign?

We asked Fine Gael why multiple postings of exactly the same tweets through various Fine Gael accounts were posted.

Are Fine Gael politicians really so in tune with each other’s thoughts or was this simply sloppy automation?

In a statement, Fine Gael said:

All Fine Gael members are encouraged to engage with social media and outline our plan to keep the recovery going while exposing the fact that the opposition have no plan and no vision.

We do not tell people what to say on social media.

FactCheck: The truth and the lies from last night’s RTÉ Leaders’ Debate>

Read: 9 things you need to know about the Claire Byrne Live seven-way debate>