PUBLIC SATISFACTION in the performance of the government has plummeted, according to a new poll of voters’ intentions.

The Ipsos MRBI poll for tomorrow’s Irish Times reports that 23 per cent of the electorate now claim to be satisfied with the performance of the government, a figure that is down by 14 per cent from the 37 recorded during the last similar poll.

The satisfaction ratings of the four leaders of the main political parties have also fallen – with Eamon Gilmore recording a similar fall in his approval for his leadership of the Labour Party.

His approval is down from 41 per cent to 27, while that of Enda Kenny is down from 52 per cent in the last poll to 42 per cent this time.

Gerry Adams’ approval is down three points from 32 to 29, while Micheál Martin is the least popular leader, with satisfaction at 24 per cent, down 5.

Sinn Féin has recorded the biggest gains in general election voting intentions, making gains at the expense of the three larger parties.

In the poll – taken on Monday and Tuesday of this week – Sinn Féin’s support is up 6 points to 21, causing losses for Fine Gael (33, down 3), Labour (13, down 6) and Fianna Fáil (14, down 1).

The Green Party sees its support return to its usual level of 2 per cent, with other parties and independents making up the remaining 20 per cent, gaining one point in doing so.

Other details from the poll which had been published already detailed how almost two-fifths of voters had still to decide on their stance for the Fiscal Compact referendum, taking place six weeks from today.

Read: Four out of ten voters still undecided on May referendum

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