A majority of voters wants to see a different coalition government in office after the next General Election but there is as yet no clear preference as to what the alternative should be, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll, writes, Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent.
Just 32 per cent want to see the existing Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats coalition returned to government after the next General Election, with 55 per cent preferring a different government and 13 per cent having no opinion.
However of those who want a different coalition combination, a third nevertheless want to see it led by Fianna Fáil.
The preferred choices of coalition combinations were as follows: Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats, 30 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour Party, 16 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/Green Party, 9 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Labour, 8 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin, 7 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/PD, 4 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/Sinn Féin, 4 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Green Party, 3 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael, 3 per cent; none of these 4 per cent. Some 12 per cent said they did not know or gave no opinion.
The poll was conducted last Tuesday and Wednesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State.
Overall 51 per cent of voters chose a coalition combination with Fianna Fáil participation, with 36 per cent choosing a combination with Fine Gael participation.
While party support figures published on Saturday showed Fine Gael and Labour making significant gains at Fianna Fáil's expense, these parties have yet to convince a large enough proportion of the electorate to choose them as the core of an alternative government.
Of those who would prefer a different coalition, 34 per cent want a Fianna Fáil-led option. The other preferences of those wanting a different coalition are: Fine Gael/Labour, 27 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/Green, 14 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Labour, 11 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin, 11 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/PD, 7 per cent; Fine Gael/Labour/Sinn Féin, 7 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Green, 5 per cent; Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael, 5 per cent; none of these 7 per cent; and don't know/no opinion 6 per cent.
Amid evidence that a number of Fianna Fáil TDs are tiring of coalition with the PDs, it emerges that some 27 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters would prefer a different coalition. Some 10 per cent want a Fianna Fáil/Labour option; 6 per cent Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin and 5 per cent Fianna Fáil/Green Party, 2 per cent Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael and 4 per cent an option involving Fine Gael and Labour but excluding Fianna Fáil.
With the Labour Party having decided to seek a pre-election pact with Fine Gael at its conference a fortnight ago, the poll shows a clear preference among party supporters for a coalition with that party.
Some 38 per cent of Labour voters chose a Fine Gael/Labour coalition as their preferred option. When those who chose a FG/Labour combination which also involved either the Green Party or Sinn Féin are included, some 60 per cent chose an option involving Fine Gael. However almost a quarter of Labour supporters - 23 per cent - would prefer a coalition with Fianna Fáil.
There is also a very low tolerance for any Sinn Féin participation in government with just 11 per cent favouring it. Half of these are Sinn Féin supporters. Just 6 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters would prefer a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin coalition. Some 6 per cent of Labour voters and 4 per cent of Fine Gael supporters would choose a Fine Gael/Labour/Sinn Féin coalition. Among the two thirds of Sinn Féin voters who want to see the party in government, there is a two to one preference for government with Fianna Fáil.