Overwhelming 'no' vote to Bush’s visit to Ireland

Two out of three people living in the East Constituency say they do not support next month’s visit by US President George W. Bush to Ireland.

A poll published today, shows that less than one in five people surveyed are in favour if the visit.

Five hundred people from the constituency were questioned for this latest Irish Examiner/Prime Time poll.

It indicates widespread opposition among the public to the US occupation of Iraq, with 67% of those polled claiming they are not in favour of President Bush arriving in Ireland for a meeting with EU leaders.

The survey also probed public attitudes to social issues likely to influence voters in the forthcoming elections.

It was found that a third of those living in the east, would be willing to pay more taxes if the Government spent it on childcare facilities.

The poll further shows that 82% of people in Leinster believe stud farm owners should not be exempt from tax on earnings from horse-breeding.