Support for the Government and the Taoiseach has increased since last autumn, despite one of the toughest budgets in the history of the state, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos, MRBI poll.
However, Fine Gael is also up in the poll and the combined support for the two main Opposition parties is running at 56 per cent compared to 25 per cent for the two Coalition parties.
The modest recovery in the satisfaction ratings of the Government and the Taoiseach has brought them back to levels last seen in November, 2008.
Satisfaction with the Government is up five points to 19 per cent while satisfaction with the performance of Taoiseach Brian Cowen is up three points to 26 per cent.
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 Times poll on September 24th last were: Fianna Fáil, 22 per cent (up two points); Fine Gael, 32 per cent (up one point); Labour, 24 per cent (down one point); Sinn Féin, 8 per cent (up one point); Green Party, 3 per cent (down one point); and Independents/others, 11 per cent (no change).
The poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday 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, 20 per cent (up two points); Fine Gael, 24 per cent (up one point); Labour, 17 per cent down one point); Sinn Féin, 7 per cent (down two points); Green Party, 2 per cent (down one point); Independents/Others, 8 per cent (no change); and undecided voters 22 per cent (up one point).