The current Coalition combination is by far the most popular choice to form the next Government, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
In the past fortnight there has been a further rise of three points in the satisfaction rating with the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat Government to 62 per cent, its highest for 21/2 years.
Support for the Coalition parties also remains strong with Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats in a strong position to be returned to power.
In a notable finding, a majority would accept Sinn Fein as part of the next government. Some 47 per cent would find the party's involvement acceptable, 41 per cent would not, and 12 per cent were undecided.
Sinn Fein's participation in a coalition was seen as acceptable among supporters of all parties except Fine Gael, where 33 per cent of supporters said they would accept it, with 57 per cent against, and 10 per cent undecided.
Asked to choose between the five coalition options most likely after the next general election, 38 per cent would prefer the next government to comprise Fianna Fail, the Progressive Democrats and some independents. A further 13 per cent would prefer a Fianna Fail-led government with Labour as coalition partners.
A Fine Gael/Labour combination was chosen by 15 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/Green Party by 11 per cent and Fine Gael/Labour/Progressive Democrats by 6 per cent.
Overall, combinations led by Fianna Fail were chosen by 51 per cent of the public, while combinations involving the traditional alternative - Fine Gael and Labour - were selected by 32 per cent.
Supporters of the Labour Party - whose members must vote to approve involvement in government - favour the party coalescing with Fine Gael rather than Fianna Fail. The three options involving Fine Gael were supported by a total of 65 per cent, with just 25 per cent choosing Fianna Fail. Four per cent of Labour voters supported the continuation of the present Government, with 7 per cent having no opinion.
The state of the parties is: Fianna Fail 42 per cent, unchanged since the last Irish Times/MRBI poll a fortnight ago; Fine Gael, 24 per cent, unchanged; Labour, 12 per cent, down one; Sinn Fein, 5 per cent, down one; Green Party, 5 per cent, up two; Progressive Democrats, 3 per cent, down one; Others, 9 per cent, down one.
The core support for the parties is: Fianna Fail, 40 per cent, up one point; Fine Gael, 18 per cent, unchanged; Labour, 8 per cent, down one; Sinn Fein, 4 per cent, down one; Green Party, 4 per cent, up one; PDs, 2 per cent, down one; Workers' Party, 1 per cent, unchanged; Others, 6 per cent, up one. The level of undecided at 17 per cent is down one.
The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points in all constituencies last Tuesday and Wednesday.
While party support has remained largely stable, Labour has restored its position as second-largest party in Dublin, having fallen behind Sinn Fein and Fine Gael in the capital a fortnight ago. However, its national rating has shown a further slippage of one point, five points down on last September.