The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is considered to be the most popular Government leader of the past 20 years, according to an Irish Independent-IMS opinion poll published today.
Some 75 per cent of those polled are satisfied with the way he is leading the country. With only 19 per cent dissatisfied, it indicates that political upheavals of the past few months including the resignation of Mr Ray Burke and controversy over the "zero tolerance" policy of the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, have made no impression on his popularity.
Such party support is on a par with that achieved when Mr Jack Lynch secured a large single-party majority in 1977. Support for Fianna Fail is at 56 per cent - up 1 per cent on last month - with a core vote at 47 per cent; based on which an overall Dail majority would be possible. Support for the Progressive Democrats stands at 3 per cent, an increase of 1 per cent since November 27th. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has a 58 per cent satisfaction rating; up 1 per cent.
While the Fine Gael leader Mr John Bruton has seen an improvement in his ratings with 51 per cent satisfied with his performance (up from 47 per cent), support for his party has continued its decline since the general election, dropping from 25 to 22 per cent over the past month. Labour polled at 12 per cent (up 2 per cent), with its new leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn's personal rating at 55 per cent (down 2 per cent).
On the multi-party talks in Stormont, almost six out of 10 people (57 per cent) said they did not feel it would lead to a settlement within a year - the poll took place before the death of Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright.