SUPPORT FOR SINN Féin has risen by five points to 27% while government satisfaction has plummeted, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll.

The poll suggests the combined support for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael now stands at 35%.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s satisfaction rating has fallen by 11 points to 33%, his lowest rating since early 2020, following the fallout from the party’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin’s shock withdrawal from the election this month.

Despite Martin’s low satisfaction rating, the majority of respondents (51%) said he was right not to resign after Gavin withdrew from the election. This figure is higher amongst Fianna Fáil voters, 79%of whom agreed.

Support for Tánaiste Simon Harris has also fallen, making Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald the most popular party leader as her satisfaction rating has risen by three points to 39%.

When undecided voters, who make up 23% of those surveyed, are excluded, the latest poll puts Fianna Fáil on 17% (down five), Sinn Féin on 27% (up five), and Fine Gael on 18% (up one).

The results, which come from a poll of 1,200 face-to-face interviews, suggest that Independents and others are at 17% and undecided voters are at 23%.

The Social Democrats have fallen by one point to 5% while Labour has risen by two to 6% and Aontú has risen by one to 3%.

Support for other political parties has not changed. Green Party support remains at 3%, People Before Profit-Solidarity at 2% while Independent Ireland is on 2%.

The poll suggests voters are unhappy with the direction in which the state is going.

When asked if the State is “generally moving in the right direction”, 55% disagreed, an increase of 5 points.

• Want to catch up on the race to the Áras? Find our brand-new election centre here.