Poll shows FF as largest party

The deal on the Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes has seemingly done little to improve the Government’s popularity, according…

A second poll in as many weeks has shown that Fianna Fail is the most popular party in the State. Pictured is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (r) and finance spokesman Michael McGrath.
A second poll in as many weeks has shown that Fianna Fail is the most popular party in the State. Pictured is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (r) and finance spokesman Michael McGrath.

The deal on the Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes has seemingly done little to improve the Government’s popularity, according to a poll published today.

The Millward Brown poll for the Sunday Independent is the second in a fortnight to show that Fianna Fáil has grown to become the most popular political party in the State again.

The poll of 1,000 voters was carried out between February 6th and 13th.

The promissory note deal was announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on February 7th. Mr Kenny said the agreement with the European Central Bank would reduce the country's borrowing needs by €20 billion in the coming decade and ease budget pressures over the next two years.

An Irish Times poll conducted on February 4th and 5th, before the deal, showed Fianna Fail to be the most popular party in the State.

It put party support – when undecided voters were excluded – Fianna Fáil, 26 per cent; Fine Gael, 25 per cent; Labour, 10 per cent; Sinn Féin, 18 per cent; Green Party, 1 per cent; and Independents/Others, 20 per cent.

The Sunday Independent poll shows – when undecided voters (27 per cent) were excluded – Fianna Fail, 27 per cent; Fine Gael, 25 per cent; Labour 13 per cent; Sinn Féin, 20 per cent; and Independents/Others, 16 per cent.