Poll favours Govt despite abortion defeat

Public satisfaction with the Government has not been dented by the defeat in the abortion referendum, according to the latest opinion poll.

The new figures out this morning show a 59% satisfaction rating with the coalition with most people in favour of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats to remain in power after the election.

38% want the current coalition to continue, compared to 19% for a Fianna Fail, Labour Government, and 22% for a Fine Gael, Labour, Greens rainbow coalition.

When it comes to party leaders, Bertie Ahern remains high with a satisfaction rating of 69%.

The PD leader Mary Harney is at 63%, Labour's Ruairi Quinn at 47%, the Greens' Trevor Sergeant at 29%, Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams has 49% and Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan is at 32%.