The Taoiseach Mr Ahern has successfully weathered the recent controversy surrounding his acceptance of payments in the early 1990s with a new poll showing a rise in his satisfaction rating.
According to an TNS mrbi opinion poll to be published in tomorrow's Irish Times, Mr Ahern's personal satisfaction rating is up by one point to 53 per cent while that of the Government' has risen six points to 46 per cent.
Fianna Fail has showed a significant rise in support, up fully 8 points compared to the last TNS mrbi poll in May at 39 per cent. There was good news too, for the new Tanaiste Michael McDowell who's party showed a one point gain to 4 per cent.
However, the poll results make grim reading for the members of the alternative coalition with Fine Gale support slipping two points to 26 per cent and Labour falling back 4 points to 11 per cent.
However, there is better news for the Opposition party leaders with Enda Kenny seeing a two point rise in his satisfaction rating, while that of the Labour party leader has risen significantly since May.
Support for Sinn Fein dropped one point to 8 per cent. The Green Party and Others category both attracted 6 per cent support, with the Greens adding one point and Others dropping by 3 points.
The poll was carried out last Monday and Tuesday among a representative sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points in all of the constituencies in the country.
The growth in Fianna Fail support comes despite three-weeks of near continuous pressure on the the Taoiseach from opposition parties and the media.