The influence of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personality in attracting votes to Fianna Fáil has diminished with every election, one of his senior Ministers said yesterday.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey indicated that Mr Ahern's ability as a vote-getter was no longer as influential in the party as it once was.
Mr Dempsey was responding to questions about the findings of the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll which showed that satisfaction ratings for Mr Ahern had fallen to a low of 40 per cent, a point below the figure for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
Asked about the so-called "Bertie-factor", Mr Demspey replied: "There is no doubt it was a major factor in the 1997 election. There's no doubt about that. It was less of a factor in 2002 because we had a good record of government and even less of a factor in 2007.
"You saw the changes in all the leaders' status in the opinion polls. I don't think it really makes a huge amount of difference at the end of the day.
"Party leaders come very low down when they do the surveys after elections. I can't even remember seeing party leaders being a factor in how people voted. It's always candidates and policies," he added.
Asked if it was now time for Mr Ahern to step down, he said: "The Taoiseach will go in his own time. I think he's said that all along. I certainly don't detect any inclination within the parliamentary party to do anything to expedite that or that anyone is even thinking about that."
In a spirited defence of Mr Ahern, Tánaiste Brian Cowen dismissed the suggestion that the Taoiseach had now become a liability.
Speaking on RTÉ radio, he maintained that Fianna Fáil's 34 per cent standing was an achievement, as it came in the face of a consistent and personalised onslaught by Fine Gael and Labour.
"[ The poll showing] is consistent with my belief that people are not interested in vulgar personality politics," he said.
He said the fact that only 14 per cent were satisfied with Mr Ahern's answers reflected a desire on the public's part that the Taoiseach continue to answer questions before the Mahon tribunal.
Mr Cowen played down his own support levels of 53 per cent, some 12 per cent higher than those enjoyed by the Taoiseach.
"I am not interested in this at all," he said. "I work for three parties in a Government which has increased its support over the last poll, if you want to get into the opinion poll racket that I regard as a snapshot," he added.
For their part, the reaction from the two main Opposition parties was muted.
Fine Gael's Enda Kenny repeated his objective for his party to become the largest in the State. He said the latest poll was encouraging but more work needed to be done.
The Labour spokesman said its three point slip to 12 per cent was puzzling and disappointing but it still represented higher support levels than at the time of the General Election. He added that the party took encouragement from the strong satisfaction rating for party leader Eamon Gilmore, noting that it had taken Mr Kenny two years to reach the 36 per cent mark.