'Brian Cowen bounce' will not last, say Opposition

Opposition politicians today dismissed a surge in Fianna Fáil support as an inevitable ’Brian Cowen bounce’ that wouldn’t last.

But a senior colleague of the next Taoiseach insisted the five point jump in a popularity poll was a fair reflection of the main government party’s standing among voters.

The Red C Poll of 500 people carried out on Thursday for the Sunday Business Post newspaper put Fianna Fáil on 40% – up from 35% on a survey published last week.

Fine Gael were on 28% (down 2%), Labour unchanged on 11%, the Greens on 9% (up one), Sinn Féin 6% (down 3%), and the Progressive Democrats unchanged on 1%.

A convincing 63% of those surveyed believed the Fianna Fáil leader in waiting would make the best Taoiseach compared to 24% for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and 13% unable to say.

Jim O’Keeffe, Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, said the ratings merely reflected temporary good will towards the Tanaiste’s promotion.

“That sort of bounce is to be expected. A certain honeymoon period is predictable,” he said.

The former front bench Opposition spokesman said there was also relief among the electorate – and within Fianna Fáil – that Bertie Ahern is to stand down within weeks.

Over a fifth of those surveyed (22%) felt Mr Ahern should not have resigned while 31% did not want him to quit but felt he had no option following recent revelations about his personal finances.

Another 20% felt it was about time he went and almost a quarter (24%) felt he should have quit as soon as the Mahon Tribunal started to investigate him.

“I suppose the poll is a certain expression of hope that the party can get back to what they should have been dealing with for a long time – the problems of the country,” said Mr O’Keeffe.

“But people will go back and focus on what counts in this country.

“They will judge Brian Cowen when he has been in office for some time. He’s not there yet.

“I think a lot of people, including myself, will be saying ’good luck’ – if not for yourself, for the sake of the country.”

Willie Penrose, Labour Party’s Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman, said he wasn’t concerned by the jump in support for Fianna Fáil.

“Every time a party changes a leader they get a bounce,” he said.

“At the end of the day, Brian Cowen has extremely challenging times ahead. The real test of evaluation will be 12 or 15 months down the line.

“I see nothing in this poll that I’m non-plussed about. The man isn’t even the position yet.”

But Junior Minister Pat ’The Cope’ Gallagher insisted the 40% support for Fianna Fáil would be maintained under his new leader.

“The poll prior to this wasn’t reflecting what I was finding on the ground, but I have no doubt that the Brian Cowen appointment has given it that additional bounce.

“He is highly regarded not just by the parliamentary party but by the Irish electorate, they obviously have some confidence in him steering us through the next ten years.”

The Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety said Mr Cowen was clearly the most experienced politician to lead the country during the tough times that lay ahead economically.

“I believe that when history is written he will go down as one of the great leaders and Taoisigh,” he added.

Mr Cowen was formally confirmed as the next Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil yesterday.

The Tánaiste and Finance Minister was the only party member to put his name forward for nominations to succeed Bertie Ahern on May 6.

He will be formally declared the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil at a meeting of the parliamentary party on Wednesday.