FINE GAEL has slipped back to its lowest rating in more than three years, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, which shows that support for the Government parties has remained remarkably stable over the past three weeks. STEPHEN COLLINSreports
Sinn Féin and the Green Party have increased support while the Labour Party has held on to ground gained in the last poll. The adjusted figures for party support, compared with the last Irish Times poll three weeks ago are: Fianna Fáil, 42 per cent (no change); Fine Gael, 23 per cent (down three points); Labour, 15 per cent (no change); Sinn Féin, 8 per cent (up two points); Green Party, 5 per cent (up one point); PDs, 1 per cent (no change); and Independents/others, 6 per cent (no change).
The poll was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday among a representative sample of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies.
The core vote for the parties compared with the last Irish Times poll is: Fianna Fáil, 39 per cent (down one point); Fine Gael, 17 per cent (down three points); Labour, 11 per cent (no change); Sinn Féin, 8 per cent (no change); Greens, 4 per cent (up one point); PDs, 1 per cent (no change); Independents/ others, 4 per cent (no change); and undecided voters 16 per cent (up one point).
In terms of satisfaction ratings the Government has slipped two points to 46 per cent and Mr Cowen has dropped five points to 47 per cent. However, the Taoiseach is still the most popular leader. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is down four points to 35 per cent while Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is down five points to 35 per cent. Green Party leader John Gormley has dropped four points to 40 per cent while Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has dropped three to 45 per cent.
The new Progressive Democrats leader, Senator Ciarán Cannon, is still struggling to make any impact. His satisfaction rating has dropped one point to 15 per cent and a huge 71 per cent have no opinion about him.