Most Irish people expressing an opinion oppose the war on Iraq, the use of Shannon by the US military and the Taoiseach's handling of the issue, according to a Millward Brown/IMS poll.
The poll results published in yesterday's Sunday Independent also show a fall in core support for Fianna Fáil and high dissatisfaction with the Government and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The opposition to the war and the use of Shannon come despite a majority believing it is in Ireland's national economic interest to support the war on Iraq.
Fifty-four per cent agree that it is in Ireland's national economic interest to support the war, 31 per cent that it is not, with 15 per cent having no opinion.
Those disapproving of the continued use of Shannon Airport in the war effort stand at 49 per cent, with 43 per cent approving and 8 per cent with no opinion.
A majority of 54 per cent also believes the use of Shannon by the US military conflicts with Ireland's policy of neutrality. Some 32 per cent say it does not, with 15 per cent having no opinion.
The poll also shows the Taoiseach has failed to convince the public that he is handling the Iraq crisis properly.
Some 42 per cent believe that his handling has been poor or very poor, with 32 per cent believing it has been good or very good. A further 25 per cent have no opinion.
Fianna Fáil support is at 35 per cent, the poll shows. Figures for the other parties are Fine Gael, 23 per cent; Labour, 13 per cent; Sinn Féin, 8 per cent; Green Party, 5 per cent; Progressive Democrats, 4 per cent; Others, 11 per cent.
These figures are based on a new method of distributing those who gave "don't know" answers used by Millward Brown/IMS which, it says, gives a more reliable result.
As this is the first time this method has been used, these figures cannot be compared with previous ones.
However, it is possible to compare the core voting figures - the response including "don't know" replies. These figures are: Fianna Fáil, 31 per cent, down eight points since the last poll six months ago; Fine Gael, 17 per cent, no change; Labour, 10 per cent, no change; Sinn Féin, 7 per cent, down 2; Green Party, 4 per cent, down 2; Progressive Democrats, 3 per cent, no change; Others, 6 per cent, up 2. Some 23 per cent expressed no opinion.
Some 53 per cent are dissatisfied with the Taoiseach, a marginal fall since last October, 33 per cent are satisfied, a marginal rise, while 12 per cent have no opinion.
There was also a six-point fall in satisfaction with the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, to 46 per cent. .
However, satisfaction with the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has risen by just one point to 32 per cent, those dissatisfied have risen from 22 per cent to 29 per cent and 39 per cent have no opinion.
Mr Pat Rabbitte, of the Labour Party, polled well and is now the most popular party leader.
However, the Sunday Independent did not publish the precise figures for his performance yesterday. Mr Gerry Adams, of Sinn Féin, is the party leader with the second-highest approval rating, but again no precise figures were published yesterday.
Satisfaction with the Government is at 33 per cent, up two points since last October. Dissatisfaction is at 60 per cent, down three. Some 7 per cent have no opinion, up one.