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Latest opinion poll gives FG further breathing space

Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire

FINE GAEL’S LEAD over Labour in the opinion polls has stretched to a massive 21 per cent, according to the latest poll in today’s newspapers.

The Irish Daily Star’s poll, carried out by OI research between Saturday and Monday, gives Fine Gael a 39 per cent share of the public support – creeping ever closer to the share of the vote it would need to guarantee an overall majority in the next Dáil.

Its hopes are further boosted by Labour’s slip down to 18 per cent, just a point ahead of Fianna Fáil on 17, which will be happy to put distance between itself and Sinn Féin back in fourth place.

The Green Party sits on 2 per cent, while independents and others stay occupy the other 14 per cent of the public’s support.

The poll saw over 1,000 voters telephoned across the country between Saturday and Monday, however, so it does not include responses to the leaders’ debate on Monday night or the TG4 debate aired yesterday evening.

There is a further positive note for Micheál Martin, who is ranked as the most popular party leader when voters were asked who they thought could be trusted to represent Ireland overseas.

He won the support of 39 per cent of voters, ahead of Enda Kenny who won the approval of 35 per cent, and Eamon Gilmore who was supported by 32 per cent.

Among other questions put to voters was how the new government should treat the EU-IMF bailout: 80 per cent of voters said it should be negotiated, while 10 per cent advocated defaulting.

Irish Daily Star/OI Research poll
(Results of Irish Independent/Millward Brown poll, published this morning, in brackets)

  • Fine Gael 39 (38)
  • Labour 18 (23)
  • Fianna Fáil 17 (12)
  • Sinn Fein 10 (10)
  • Green Party 2 (1)
  • Independents/others 14 (16)

Read more in today’s Irish Daily Star >

Boards.ie poll shows FF set for meltdown >

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Comments (7 Comments)

  • Ronan Lyons 16/02/11 #
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    “Micheál Martin… is ranked as the most popular party leader when voters were asked who they thought could be trusted to represent Ireland overseas.”
    This is obviously from before his “me so solly” gag at the Dublin Web Summit.

    Reply
  • John Buckley 16/02/11 #
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    Sinn fein still may not be the most popular but they still have some good “promises” and that’s all they are… Empty promises by all the party’s.

    Reply
  • Frank Bradley 16/02/11 #
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    God help us all, if FG end up being able to form a single party government. We need another party in there with them, to keep them in check.

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    • Hugh Curran 16/02/11 #
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      We’ve had other parties in there for the last 20 years and the country is in the gutter. Perhaps what we need is some single party rule so the government can go about the job of governing instead of making deals with partners in order to get some piece of legislation through.

      The truth is that a single party government could well be exactly what we need. Why arecwe so afraid of single party rule?

    • Michael Everson 17/02/11 #
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      I would fear being ruled by a Tory party, and that’s what FG seems very much to be.

  • Barry R. 17/02/11 #
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    We are afraid of single party government for one reason …. FF.
    The way they swaggered with power when they had it. Even in coalition the arrogance was there, from the thief Haughey through the imbecile Ahern, to the buffoon Cowan.

    Single party government of a centre-right party is exactly what we need, for stability and to build confidence with the international commmunity.

    Unfortunately they will be able to do very little as the bull has smashed every last thing in the china shop !

    Reply
  • Stephen Quinn 17/02/11 #
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    The next government should stand for for the taxpayer, stand up for the people. Not stand up for the banks.

    There is more than just a banking crisis.

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