Mr Pat Rabbitte has increased his lead over his rivals for the Labour Party leadership among both the general public and his party's voters, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
Mr Rabbitte has the support of 35 per cent of voters, 5 points more than in the last Irish Times/MRBI poll in late September. Mr Brendan Howlin is the choice of 20 per cent, a drop of one point. The support levels for Ms Roisín Shortall at 10 per cent and Mr Eamon Gilmore at 8 per cent remain unchanged. Some 28 per cent expressed no opinion, a drop of 3 points.
Among Labour Party voters, Mr Rabbitte is favoured by 40 per cent, down 2 points. Mr Howlin has the support of 25 per cent, down 6 points. Mr Gilmore is on 16 per cent, up 3 points and Ms Shortall is on 10 per cent, down one point. Just 4 per cent of Labour voters gave no opinion, down 5 points.
The poll was taken last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State.
The postal ballot of Labour members, in which nearly half have already voted, ends on October 25th.
Mr Rabbitte's lead is most pronounced in Dublin, where he has the support of 41 per cent of voters. Mr Howlin wins just 13 per cent support in the capital, Mr Gilmore is on 10 per cent with Ms Shortall on 9 per cent. Some 26 per cent have no opinion. Mr Howlin is strongest in the rest of Leinster on 26 per cent, although he is still a point behind Mr Rabbitte, who has 27 per cent support.
The poll has also found substantial public distrust of the Government, political parties, the Dáil and the press. The Government is trusted by 34 per cent, distrusted by 58 per cent while 8 per cent have no opinion. The political parties are trusted by 26 per cent, distrusted by 61 per cent with 13 per cent having no opinion. The Dáil is trusted by 34 per cent, distrusted by 56 per cent while 10 per cent have no opinion.
The press is trusted by 33 per cent, distrusted by 61 per cent with 6 per cent having no opinion. Television fares better, being trusted by 44 per cent, distrusted by 48 per cent while 8 per cent have no opinion. The European Union is trusted by 53 per cent of voters, distrusted by 25 per cent with 22 per cent having no opinion. The Irish Civil Service has the highest level of trust, with 59 per cent trusting it, 26 per cent distrusting it and 15 per cent having no opinion.