Polls suggest close election

The upcoming General Election will be a closely fought contest between the two alternative Governments, the latest political opinion poll revealed today.

The poll placed support for the current Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Government at 38%, one percentage point ahead of the alternative coalition of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

The latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll found a collapse in the PDs rating, and a doubling in support for the Greens.

The poll found party support for Fianna Fáil at 37% down three points, Fine Gael at 26% down one point, Labour unchanged at 11%, Sinn Féin up two points at 9%, Green Party up four points at 8%, the PDs down two points at 1% and Independents unchanged at 8%.

The survey, carried out by TNS/MRBI on Monday and Tuesday among 1,000 people, asked voters how satisfied they were with the way the various party leaders are doing their jobs.

Voters’ satisfaction rating with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had fallen three points to 56%, while Tánaiste Michael McDowell was up six points at 44%. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was down two points at 41%, while Labour leader Pat Rabbitte was up one point at 47%.