The only way the Government will be defeated in the general election will be by a conglomeration of "a whole lot of parties that would be probably green and red and maybe even redder" who will "just make a mess of it", Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said.
Commenting on yesterday's TNS mrbi opinion poll in The Irish Timeswhich showed Fianna Fáil down three points to 34 per cent, and Fine Gael up five points to 31 per cent, Mr Ahern said: "They do an opinion poll every day. So to be honest with you I have a quick scan of them every day. There's only one I'm concerned about and that's in a number of weeks' time. When we get to that I'll reflect on that one all right."
Mr Ahern said he never understands the formulations of polls and how in polls for his party 6 or 7 per cent are taken off, but his own people calculate that 5 per cent should be taken off.
He said he hoped that 5 per cent turn up on the day and that the poll is a stimulus to people that if they turn up then The Irish Timespoll would be 39 per cent.
"So I thank The Irish Timesfor pointing that out to our Fianna Fáil voters," he said.
Mr Ahern added that he would continue in the position of Taoiseach after the next general election if that's what people so decide, and would continue to give stable, strong government.
Yesterday's poll showed that the alternative government of Fine Gael and Labour has moved into a challenging position with a combined 41 per cent share of the vote compared with a combined 37 per cent share by the Fianna Fáil and PD Government.
Responding to the poll, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he is not fearful that his party has peaked too early in the run-up to the election. He said the poll "is very encouraging for our supporters on the ground and it really puts a pep in the step".
He added: "A number of months ago, you wouldn't have thought this were possible, but the Fine Gael-Labour alliance is really catching on in the public mind where you are going to have an acceptance of responsibility, decisiveness and delivery of the services for which people pay.
"This Government has wasted an obscene amount of your money . . . people will give them their answer when they get the opportunity. We are going to continue the momentum for change in every constituency. As far as we are concerned, the title is on the line until the close of polls."
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said the opinion poll gives a tremendous boost to the alterative government: "I've invested a great deal of energy over the last few years into trying to ensure people would have a real choice when this election comes.
Asked if he was disappointed at the party's drop of 1 per cent and its poor showing in Dublin, Mr Rabbitte said he did not pay much attention to a point up or a point down but he would prefer to be higher. He said he did not hold much store in extrapolating figures outside Dublin.
"Polls last Sunday had us at 16 per cent in Dublin and today's poll is half of that. The trend is with the alternative government now and it's coming at the right time. There is a mood out there for change. It is our task to provide people with an alternative. That's what they are saying to us," he claimed.
Mr Rabbitte added he is more optimistic after the poll than he was before "Bertiegate" that Labour and Fine Gael will win. "I think there is wind behind us now."