The scale of the task facing the Government in attempting to reverse the decline in support revealed in the latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll is highlighted by the response of voters to questions about the spiralling cost of living, the housing crisis and the approach to Ukrainian refugees.
While the responses reveal some contradictory attitudes, the basic message from the poll is that a majority of people believe the Government is not doing enough to help them with the cost of living or the housing crisis and there is strong opposition to accepting more Ukrainian refugees.
Nine out of 10 people believe the spike in the cost of living has made it more difficult for them to manage financially, while over half blame the Government for rising prices. Only 36 per cent of people accept the proposition that the increased cost of living is out of the Government’s hands.
There is an apparent contradiction in that a majority of people also believe Government action could make inflation worse and that wage increases could add to inflation. Unsurprisingly, supporters of the three Coalition parties are the most likely to say the situation is out of the Government’s hands while the vast majority of Sinn Féin supporters blame it for the current situation.
Nonetheless, 50 per cent of people accept the proposition that “we just have to put up with cost increases for now” while 45 per cent disagree. Fianna Fáil and Green Party voters are the most stoical while Sinn Féin supporters are the least likely to accept the situation.
When it comes to housing, a substantial majority does not believe that the Government is making progress to deal with the issue although just 27 per cent say they are personally affected by it. A massive majority of 84 per cent profess to support the building of more social homes, even if there are local objections, while 89 per cent say they want housing supply to increase even if that means that prices fall.
On the question of refugees there appear to be conflicting attitudes. A substantial 82 per cent agreed that Ireland should live up to its international obligations to protect people who are at risk, yet 60 per cent said they were concerned that too many asylum seekers and refugees might come to Ireland. When asked if Ireland should accept all the Ukrainians who come here or instead put a cap on the numbers, 73 per cent favoured a cap.
The troubling message for the Government is that there are clear public misgivings on its policy of accepting all Ukrainian refugees. That position was correct and is worth defending. When coupled with the fact that a majority of people believe it should be doing more to help them with the cost of living crisis and housing, however, the poll’s message for the Coalition is that it will have its work cut out to regain public support.