Taoiseach muted on poll showing bounce for party

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has given a muted reaction to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll which shows a boost in support for Fianna Fáil and high satisfaction rating for Bertie Ahern's successor.

Speaking in Kilkenny, Mr Cowen said: "An opinion poll is just an opinion poll. It is not relevant to the job of work we have ahead of us. There will be plenty of ups and downs in politics."

However, a Fianna Fáil spokesman did say that the opinion poll spoke for itself and its results were very encouraging.

The poll showed support for Fianna Fáil at 42 per cent (up eight points); Fine Gael, 26 per cent (down five points); Labour, 15 per cent (up three points); Sinn Féin, 6 per cent (down two points); and the Green Party, 4 per cent (down two points).

Mr Cowen's own personal ratings were also high, with 52 per cent expressing satisfaction with his performance compared to only 11 per cent saying they were dissatisfied. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny slips to 39 per cent while Eamon Gilmore jumps four points to 40 per cent. John Gormley is up by two points, to 44 per cent.

Mr Kenny yesterday played down the findings, attributing them to the invariable boost brought about by a change of leadership.

"All honeymoons are assumed to be periods of delirious happiness but the bills have to be paid when they come home. And the bills are going to be paid with a vengeance when reality dawns on this Government very shortly," he said. Mr Kenny predicted that the poll findings would be very different next autumn when conventional politics returned.

He cited public dissatisfaction with the health services and the "negative equity" faced by home owners.

The Fine Gael leader was also asked about his comparatively low satisfaction ratings: "From my own point of view, obviously, you know, polls go up and polls go down. My job is to prosecute the Government [in the Dáil]," he replied.

The Labour Party spokesman said that the party was very pleased with its high showing given that the media attention given to Fianna Fáil's changing of the guard had "made the last six weeks very difficult for Opposition parties".

"To achieve that in the circumstances was very good. We are also pleased with Eamon Gilmore's high satisfaction ratings," he said.

The Green Party spokesman said that the party had never made an issue of poll findings, even when they were good for it. "We note this poll result with interest and are pleased to see John Gormley's increased approval and increased satisfaction with the Government," he said.

A spokeswoman for Sinn Féin said the poll contained no surprises.

"The honeymoon period for Fianna Fáil is over. The Government is entering into a highly contested referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and the economy is facing serious challenges. We in Sinn Féin are continuing our party rebuilding project launched late last year, " she said.

Speaking in Kilkenny, Mr Cowen also refused to be drawn on speculation that Mr Ahern would be in contention for a post in the EU after the referendum.

Asked about the matter, Mr Cowen said: "That's in the area of speculation, in fairness. The former taoiseach has not indicated officially what the position is. Obviously, let's wait and see what emerges."

He said "what we have to concentrate on and indeed on what Bertie Ahern is concentrating on" was to "ensure that we have a good campaign" in his Dublin Central constituency and other constituencies around the country in the referendum.

Mr Cowen said that Mr Ahern was concerning himself with "getting our organisation mobilised" in his constituency.