It's the health services, stupid. That's the message of the Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll results published today, which shows that health will influence substantially more voters in the next general election than any other issue.
Some 65 per cent say it is one of the three issues that will most influence how they vote - this is not news to the political parties.
Deputies from all parties acknowledge that callers to their constituency clinics are mystified and angry that, at a time of such economic prosperity, they still encounter such an inadequate service when they are most vulnerable.
The public feeling has been filtered through to political leaders. The Opposition has been focusing its attacks on the Government on the issue for some time.
In the Tipperary South by-election contest, the Workers' and Unemployed Action Group candidate, Ms Phil Prendergast, has produced campaigning literature dominated by the issue.
The Government is now in the process of devising a response to the public concern. It will have to be better than the recent Cabinet meeting in Ballymascanlon, where the national media were coaxed to show up for a "special" meeting to discuss the health services.
Standing outside with microphones and notebooks at the ready, they were taken aback to be approached not by the Taoiseach or Minister for Health with news of initiatives to tackle the problems.
Instead, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, came out to say there would be no more money, and sources informed all and sundry that the Taoiseach had told his ministers the health service was just fine.
Government sources have insisted the meeting was just a stage in a process - a listening exercise where ministers were presented with the facts. Decisions to deal with the problems will follow, they say.
It is clear from the poll that the public does not share the view that health services are adequate.
If the Minister for Health is fighting a battle with his colleagues for resources, he will be emboldened by the finding that while 65 per cent see it as one of the three key issues, some 68 per cent of supporters of his own party do.
Concern is greatest in rural areas, among older people, women and married people. But it is spread throughout all sectors, regions, age groups and political parties.
In a related finding, 74 per cent said they would sacrifice further tax cuts for a better health service, with 20 per cent saying they would not, and 6 per cent with no opinion.
This is quite a striking outcome, as people were not simply asked generally if they wanted more health spending - they were told explicitly that this would involve forgoing promised tax cuts.
Nevertheless, 75 per cent of voters said they would indeed be willing to do this for a better health service.
Unsurprisingly, given the parties' policy agendas, PD voters were most opposed to giving up their tax cuts for better health services.
Some 25 per cent were opposed, compared to 24 per cent of Sinn Fein voters, 21 per cent of Fine Gael supporters, 20 per cent of Labour voters, 19 per cent of Fianna Fail voters and of those supporting independents, just 11 per cent of Green Party supporters and 17 per cent of those opting for other candidates.
Crime also remains high on the voters' agenda, with more concern over it in rural (46 per cent) than urban (35 per cent) areas. The issue of honesty and corruption in politics also rates highly, with 26 per cent spontaneously nominating it.
It must be remembered that those polled were asked to nominate their most important three issues without any prompting by a prepared list of options. How the importance of the issue will translate into votes remains to be seen, as the tribunals continue to uncover damaging facts concerning Fine Gael's past fundraising and the behaviour of former Fianna Fail ministers.
But on these poll findings, the parties that convince voters that they will improve the health services, tackle crime and champion the cause of honesty in politics will find most favour whenever the Taoiseach decides to call the election.