Fine Gael and Labour have registered no improvement in their level of support since June despite an increase in public dissatisfaction with how the Government is running the country, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
While public dissatisfaction with the Government increased to 58 per cent (up seven points), Fine Gael and Labour support remains unchanged at 25 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
Fianna Fáil has registered an increase of two points to bring its support to 34 per cent despite the controversy generated by the recent RTÉ television series Rip-Off Republic.
Of the smaller parties, coalition partners the Progressive Democrats' support remains unchanged at 4 per cent, Sinn Féin support has fallen to 10 per cent (down one per cent) while the Green Party has increased its support to 5 per cent (up one per cent). Others are at 8 per cent (down one per cent).
When asked if they were satisfied or dissatisfied with how the Government was running the country, fifty eight per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied (seven per cent increase) and 34 per cent (down five per cent) said they were satisfied with the Government. Six per cent had no opinion (down one per cent).
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters throughout all constituencies.