The first opinion poll of the General Election campaign shows a boost for Fianna Fáil support when compared to its performance in the 1997 Election.
An Irish Times/MRBI poll shows the party on 45 per cent up five per cent on its poll in the 1997 election.
The poll puts Fine Gael on 23 per cent; Labour on 12 per cent, Sinn Féin on six per cent, Progressive Democrats on two per cent and others on nine per cent.
The polls showed that 15 per cent of respondents nationally are undecided.
The results of the poll, to be published in full in tomorrow's Irish Times, can not be compared with the last Irish Times/MRBI poll taken in February 2002, as it was conducted using new methodology.
For the first time a simulated ballot paper was used when the poll was conducted among a national quota of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points throughout the Republic on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The poll was taken after all the major parties had published their manifestos.
The party leader satisfaction ratings are comparable to last February’s opinion poll.
In this poll Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern is on 69 per cent up one per cent. The poll puts PDs leader and outgoing Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, on 52 per cent down four per cent.
Opposition party leaders, Mr Michael Noonan (Fine Gael) and Mr Ruairi Quinn (Labour) were each up one per cent with 30 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent was down one per cent with 35 per cent while Sinn Féin party leader Mr Gerry Adams remained the same with 48 per cent.