FARM SURVEY:A POLL of dairy farmers commissioned by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has placed Gay Mitchell ahead in the presidential election.
The poll, published on the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships today, was taken before Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness entered the race and Senator David Norris decided to make his comeback. It found 55 per cent of those polled would be voting.
The farmers gave 25 per cent of the votes to Gay Mitchell, 19 per cent to Seán Gallagher and 15 per cent to Michael D Higgins. Mary Davis received 10 per cent support and 31 per cent were undecided.
Carried out by the Behaviour and Attitudes company, more than 300 people were polled. It concluded that under the circumstances, while there was a considerable number of undecided voters, Mr Mitchell would be first across the line.
When asked to nominate whom they felt was to blame for the national crisis, the majority (69 per cent) believed all parties were responsible – politicians, senior public servants, financial institutions, developers and others.
A total of 21 per cent blamed the banking and financial institutions while 54 per cent believed it would take six years or more to be clear of our financial difficulties.