Opposition attacks as Ahern admits surprise

FINE GAEL described yesterday’s opinion poll which showed Fianna Fáil at a historically low 31% as evidence that there was a palpable mood for a change of government.

The party’s director of elections, Frank Flannery, portrayed the result, and FG’s four point gain to 28%, as a “tipping point”, which would result in the alternative government gaining power.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern expressed disappointment, saying the results would not be lightly dismissed by his party — the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition is now lagging nine points behind the combined support levels of Fine Gael and Labour.