Voters blame unionist politicians more than any other group for the current crisis in the peace process, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
Asked who bore most responsibility for the crisis, some 40 per cent of people said they believed unionist politicians did. Sinn Féin and the IRA were chosen by 28 per cent as most responsible.
The British government was chosen by 14 per cent, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland being seen as the most responsible by 6 per cent. Some 19 per cent didn't know or had no opinion.
The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State. It was conducted last Monday and Tuesday. The political institutions were suspended on Monday by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr John Reid.
Supporters of most parties blamed the unionist politicians more than Sinn Féin and the IRA. However, Fine Gael voters were evenly divided in how they allocated the blame.
Some 37 per cent blamed unionist politicians, 37 per cent Sinn Féin and the IRA, 15 per cent blamed the British government, while 8 per cent blamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Some 14 per cent didn't know or had no opinion.
Progressive Democrat voters were the only ones who blamed the republican movement more than the unionists, although in this case the poll sample is very small and less reliable.
Some 49 per cent allocated most blame to Sinn Féin and the IRA, 35 per cent to the unionist politicians, 15 per cent to the British government and 2 per cent to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Some 16 per cent didn't know or had no opinion.
Men blamed the unionists much more than women did. Some 47 per cent of men said unionist politicians bore most responsibility; 29 per cent gave most responsibility to Sinn Féin and the IRA; 15 per cent to the British government; 6 per cent to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; while 13 per cent didn't know or had no opinion.
Among women the figures are: unionist politicians, 33 per cent; Sinn Féin and the IRA 29 per cent; the British Government, 14 per cent; the Police Service of Northern Ireland, 6 per cent; don't know/no opinion 25 per cent.