THREE QUARTERS of the electorate would like to see a change of government, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, which shows Fianna Fáil slipping to a record low.
Asked if they would like to see a change of government, 75 per cent of voters said they would, while just 17 per cent said they would not.
When asked the same question in an Irish Times poll last February, 62 per cent wanted a change of government while 28 per cent were against.
There is overwhelming support for a change of government among supporters of all the Opposition parties, while 74 per cent of Green Party voters also favour a change. Even among Fianna Fáil voters a substantial minority, 42 per cent, would like to see a change of government.
Satisfaction with the Government is running at just 11 per cent, with 85 per cent of voters expressing dissatisfaction with its performance. A majority of Fianna Fáil and Green Party supporters are dissatisfied with their own Government’s performance.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s satisfaction rating has dropped six points over the summer to just 15 per cent, with 77 per cent of voters saying they are dissatisfied with the way he is doing his job.
The strong anti-Government mood of the electorate comes at a time when the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Coalition has to deal with a range of hugely challenging issues, including the Nama legislation, the framing of next year’s budget and decisions on the implementation of the Commission on Taxation report, as well as the Lisbon referendum.
When people were asked who they would vote for if there were a general election tomorrow, the adjusted figures for party support, compared with the last Irish Times poll in May were: Fianna Fáil, 17 per cent (down three points); Fine Gael, 34 per cent (down two points); Labour, 24 per cent (up one point); Sinn Féin, 10 per cent (up two points); Green Party, 3 per cent (no change); and Independents/others, 12 per cent (up two points).
The poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies.The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
The core vote for the parties (before undecided voters are excluded) compared with the last Irish Times poll was: Fianna Fáil, 16 per cent (down 3 points); Fine Gael, 26 per cent (down 2 points); Labour, 18 per cent (up 1 point); Sinn Féin, 9 per cent (up 1 point); Green Party, 2 per cent (no change); Independents/ others, 9 per cent (up 2 points); and undecided voters 20 per cent (up 1 point).
Labour has now pushed Fianna Fáil into third place in terms of core vote for the first time, with Fine Gael maintaining the position it achieved in recent polls and in local and European elections in June as the biggest party in the country. In Dublin, Labour is in first place with 25 per cent, one point ahead of Fine Gael on 24 per cent with Fianna Fáil trailing back in fourth place in the capital on 11 per cent, a point behind Sinn Féin.
The Green Party’s share of the national vote has not changed since the last poll in May, but satisfaction with the party leader, John Gormley, has dropped eight points to 19 per cent.
The Sinn Féin vote is up since May but satisfaction with party president, Gerry Adams, has dropped to 28 per cent, which is his lowest rating since he was included in TNS mrbi polls.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny’s rating has also dropped. He is down 2 points to 29 per cent and continues to trail his party.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore remains by far the most popular political figure on 47 per cent, a drop of 2 points since the last poll.
There is a huge level of dissatisfaction with Mr Cowen’s performance among supporters of all political parties, except Fianna Fáil. Even among his own supporters 44 per cent are now dissatisfied, while 50 per cent expressed satisfaction.
