FINE GAEL HAS suffered a double setback in a new opinion poll published today, with rising support for Labour and Fianna Fáil.

Enda Kenny’s party is down three points to 28%, while its coalition partner is up two points to 9%, according to the Red C/Paddy Power survey.

The findings come after two polls last month registered rising support for Fine Gael – at 31% in the last comparable Red C survey and 30% in November’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll.

Fianna Fáil remains the second most popular party with 20% of first-preference votes, up 1% on the last Red C poll two weeks ago.

Sinn Féin support remains stable at 18%, making it the third most popular party.

Independents and others are on 25%. This includes 4% support for the PBP-AAA, 3% for the Social Democrats, 2% for the Green Party and 1% for Renua.

Source: Red C/Paddy Power

Despite falling support for Fine Gael, the poll found that 43% of voters would like to see the current coalition back in government, either with or without the support of independents.

Some 19% favoured a coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, while 15% indicated a preference for a Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin government.

Source: Red C/Paddy Power

Red C interviewed a random sample of 1,016 adults by telephone between 30 November and 2 December. The margin of error is 3%.

Read: Joan Burton reckons the improving economy means people can go on dates again

Read: Sinn Féin says this Fine Gael video is ‘typical pathetic crap’