Poll shows surge in support for FF despite Ahern payments controversy

THE opposition will be glad to see the back of October after the third poll of the month showed support for Fianna Fáil increasing, despite the controversy over payments to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The monthly tracking poll, carried out by Red C, showed support for Fianna Fáil at 39%, an increase of six points since the market research firm’s previous poll in September.

The September poll was taken just before it emerged that Mr Ahern had accepted payments totalling £50,000 (€63,000) from friends and businessmen in the 1990s. The increase in support for Mr Ahern’s party since then suggests many voters sided with the Taoiseach as he faced trenchant Opposition and media criticism.