FINE GAEL and Labour are on course to form the next government, as Fianna Fáil makes a modest recovery, according to two opinion polls published yesterday.
Another feature of the polls, which show broadly similar results, is the strong showing of Independents.
The Red C poll for the Sunday Business Postputs Fianna Fáil at 16 per cent, an increase of two points on the last Red C poll for Paddy Power earlier this month.
Fine Gael is at 33 per cent, down two points, Labour is unchanged at 21 per cent, while the Green Party is down two points to 2 per cent.
Sinn Féin, at 13 per cent, is down one point, while Independents and others are up three points to 15 per cent.
In the choice for taoiseach category, the poll reveals Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, at 31 per cent, followed by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, at 26 per cent, and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, at 19 per cent.
The Millward Browne Lansdowne Sunday Independentpoll is broadly similar, except Labour is three points higher and Sinn Féin three points lower.
The poll reveals a 95 per cent dissatisfaction rating for the Government, with just 4 per cent of voters satisfied and 1 per cent in the “don’t know’’ category.