THE PUBLIC has divided views about the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) plan, with more people against the project than for it, although a substantial number of voters have no opinion, according to the latest Irish Times /TNS mrbi poll.
Asked if they supported the Government’s Nama proposal as a way of removing bad loans from the banking system, 26 per cent of voters said they were for it, 40 per cent were against and 34 per cent had no opinion. When asked if they favoured nationalising the banks, 36 per cent said they were for, 38 per cent were against and 25 per cent had no opinion.
The latest poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
A striking feature of the poll is that while Fianna Fáil supporters are the most strongly supportive of Nama, Green Party, supporters are the most strongly against.
Among Fianna Fáil voters, 46 per cent favour Nama, while 26 per cent are against. Among the Greens, 50 per cent are against the plan while only 21 per cent are for it.
Labour supporters are almost as hostile as the Greens, with 47 per cent against and 21 per cent for. Among Fine Gael supporters, 44 per cent are against and 25 per cent for the plan. Among Sinn Féin voters, 37 per cent are against and 24 per cent for.
In terms of social class, the strongest support for Nama comes from the best-off AB and C1 categories, with 32 per cent for and 42 per cent against. The strongest opposition comes from the poorest DE category with 19 per cent for, 39 per cent against and 42 per cent having no opinion. In terms of age groups, the strongest support comes from the 25 to 34-year-olds, while in regional terms voters in the rest of Leinster and Connacht Ulster are significantly more supportive than those in Dublin and Munster.
On the prospect of nationalisation, Green Party voters are even more strongly in favour of that approach than Labour supporters, while Fianna Fáil voters are the most sceptical.
Fifty four per cent of Greens favour nationalisation while 26 per cent oppose it. Among Labour supporters, 48 per cent are in favour but 31 per cent are against. Sinn Féin voters are 43 per cent for and 32 per cent against.
Fine Gael voters are almost evenly divided on nationalisation, with 38 per cent for and 37 per cent against while Fianna Fáil supporters are against by 53 per cent to 31 per cent.
The strongest opposition to nationalisation comes from the best-off AB voters, with 44 per cent against and 40 per cent for while the most support for the proposal comes from the least well off DE category, with 36 per cent for and 35 per cent against.
In age terms, the strongest support is from 35 to 49-year-olds who are in favour of nationalisation by 44 per cent to 36 per cent, while the strongest opposition is found among the over-65s who are against by 40 per cent to 30 per cent.
The poll’s findings raise serious issues for the Green Party which will hold a special conference in Athlone in a week’s time to consider the Nama legislation. Given the strength of opposition among party voters to the legislation and the support for nationalisation, the Greens’ Ministers will have their work cut out to get support for the line they have taken in backing the plan.
Lenihan admits TV error on bank debts scheme: page 6; Economy will never recover unless Nama fixes bank sector: Opinion, page 13; Editorial comment: page 15
