Cowen honeymoon over as FF takes poll slide

FIANNA FÁIL was licking its wounds last night after voters turned sharply on it over the Government’s handling of the sudden economic downturn.

Brian Cowen’s honeymoon as Taoiseach appeared to have come to an abrupt end as his party’s ratings tumbled four points to 36% in a Red C snapshot survey of public opinion.

More worrying for the Taoiseach in the run-up to next month’s emergency budget is the fact that 50% of those questioned do not have confidence the Government is able to manage the country’s predicted slide into recession.