Fianna Fáil has made a recovery from its record low poll ratings over the past three weeks, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll.
Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has gained eight points following his Late Late Showappearance and his higher visibility during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign.
The Green Party has also gained in recent weeks as debate about its future in Government has developed.
Asked if the Greens should pull out of coalition at their planned convention on October 10th, a majority of voters say they should but the overwhelming majority of party supporters say they should say in Government.
Among all voters 43 per cent say the Greens should leave office while 34 per cent say they should stay. Among Green Party supporters 74 per cent say the party should stay in while 19 per cent say it should leave.
Satisfaction with the Government has increased by 3 points to 14 per cent, but 81 per cent still express dissatisfaction with its performance. A majority of Fianna Fáil and Green Party supporters remain dissatisfied with their own Government’s performance.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s satisfaction rating is up eight points to 23 per cent but 70 per cent of voters are still dissatisfied with the way he is doing his job.
When people were asked who they would vote for if there were a general election tomorrow, the adjusted figures for party support, compared with the last Irish Timespoll on September 3rd were: Fianna Fáil, 20 per cent (up 3 points); Fine Gael, 31 per cent (down 3 points); Labour, 25 per cent (up 1 point); Sinn Féin, 9 per cent (down 1 point); Green Party, 4 per cent (up 1 point); and Independents/others, 11 per cent (down 1 point).
The poll was taken on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
The core vote for the parties (before undecided voters are excluded) compared with the last Irish Times poll was: Fianna Fáil, 18 per cent (up 2 points); Fine Gael, 23 per cent (down 3 points); Labour, 18 per cent (no change); Sinn Féin, 9 per cent (no change); Green Party, 3 per cent (up 1 point); Independents/ others, 8 per cent (down 1 point); and undecided voters 21 per cent (up 1 point).