The Government's approval rating has risen sharply by nine percentage points despite public dissatisfaction with the Budget, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll, published today.
Fianna Fail support has risen two points to 49 per cent and the Opposition has failed to capitalise on the Government's difficulties over the Budget and the cattle blockade dispute.
Fine Gael, at 26 per cent, has gained three percentage points. However, Labour's rating has fallen by three percentage points, to 11 per cent, and its core support, at 9 per cent, is its lowest since June 1997.
Satisfaction with the Government stands at 55 per cent, compared to 46 per cent last November. Some 38 per cent say they are dissatisfied, with 7 per cent saying they have no opinion.
The Government satisfaction rating has increased most strongly among Fianna Fail supporters, although it has risen among supporters of all parties and in all social classes, except among farmers, where it has marginally declined.
The increase in the Government's rating comes despite 52 per cent saying they are dissatisfied with the Budget.
The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State on Monday and Tuesday, six weeks after the Budget. The IFA national executive resigned on Monday night over the beef blockade.
The state of the parties, excluding the 20 per cent undecided, is: Fianna Fail 49 per cent, up two percentage points since the last Irish Times/MRBI poll in November; Fine Gael 26 per cent, up three points; Labour 11 per cent, down three points; Progressive Democrats 3 per cent, down one point; Green Party 3 per cent, up one point; Sinn Fein 3 per cent, down one point; Workers' Party 1 per cent, unchanged; and Others 3 per cent, down two points.
The core support for the parties is: Fianna Fail 39 per cent, up one point in two months; Fine Gael 20 per cent, up two points; Labour 9 per cent, down two points; Progressive Democrats 2 per cent, down one point; Green Party 3 per cent, up one point; Sinn Fein 3 per cent, unchanged; Workers' Party 1 per cent, unchanged; and Others 3 per cent, down one point.
The Taoiseach's personal support has dropped slightly from 69 to 66 per cent but he remains the most popular political leader.
Of the 52 per cent saying they were dissatisfied with the Budget, 38 per cent gave the Government's individualisation proposals as their reason. Some 27 per cent said they were dissatisfied because there was not enough for the lower paid and the poor in the Budget, with a further 12 per cent giving as their reason that the Budget favoured the well-off.
Two thirds of those polled believe the Budget should be changed or entirely rewritten. Just 32 per cent say the Government should go ahead with the Budget as planned.
However, a slight majority of those who expressed an opinion came out in support of the individualisation proposals. Asked if they were in favour of or against the proposal to introduce different tax allowances for single-income couples and couples with two incomes, 37 per cent said they were in favour and 35 per cent against.
Mr Ahern's personal satisfaction is 66 per cent, down three points since November; the Tanaiste, Ms Harney's rating at 56 per cent is down five percentage points; Fine Gael leader Mr John Bruton is at 45 per cent, down two points; and Labour leader Mr Ruairi Quinn is at 51 per cent, unchanged.
According to a formula devised by MRBI from its opinion poll data to take account of recent overstatements in polls of Fianna Fail support and the growing incidence of low voter turnout, MRBI estimates that the actual result of a general election held this week would be: Fianna Fail 44 per cent; Fine Gael 28 per cent; Labour 14 per cent; Progressive Democrats 4 per cent; Sinn Fein 4 per cent; Green Party 3 per cent and Others 3 per cent.