OVER HALF OF you believe Enda Kenny has been a better Taoiseach than Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, according to a new poll.

As he seeks an historic second consecutive term in government for Fine Gael, Kenny is viewed as having done a better job than his two Fianna Fáil predecessors among the majority of adults in Ireland.

The poll was carried out earlier this month by Amarách Research in conjunction with Claire Byrne Live and TheJournal.ie.

Over 1,000 adults were asked: ‘Who was a better Taoiseach?’

They were given a choice of three most recent incumbents: Kenny, his predecessor, Cowen, who served in the office between 2008 and 2011, or Ahern, who served as Taoiseach between 1997 and 2008.

The Fine Gael leader, who has held the office since 2011, is viewed by 55% of people as having been the better Taoiseach, with 31% opting for Ahern and just 14% selecting Cowen.

Bertie Ahern with his successor Brian Cowen in 2009

As he enters the final few weeks of his tenure as head of this Fine Gael-Labour government, Kenny is the clear winner among men and women, in all age groups and in all areas of the country.

Some 58% of people in Dublin think Kenny has been a better Taoiseach compared to just 29% of people who think local boy Ahern was better.

Cowen comes out marginally better than his overall result in Leinster – he was based in Offaly – with nearly a fifth of people, 18%, thinking he was a better Taoiseach while just less than half, 49%, opted for Kenny.

Kenny, a TD in Mayo for over four decades, also performs strongly in Connacht and Ulster with 58% of people thinking he has been the better Taoiseach.

The poll was conducted by Amárach Research on Monday, 11 January. The survey panel comprises more than 1,000 adults who all own a smartphone. More details here. 

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