Opinion poll boost for Kenny

Enda Kenny has for the first time emerged as the most popular leader of the three main political parties in an opinion poll.

Separate polls in two newspapers tomorrow show support for Fine Gael in the high thirties - again edging the party closer to an overall majority in the next Dáil.

A Sunday Business Post/RedC poll has Fine Gael on 39%, up 1 percentage point.

Labour are on 17%, down 3% and Fianna Fáil are on 16%, up 1%.

Sinn Féin are up 2% to 12%, the Greens are down 1% to 2% and Independents are unchanged on 14%.

The same survey shows a satisfaction rating for Enda Kenny of 31%, compared to 26% for Micheál Martin and 21% for Eamon Gilmore.

A second poll in the Sunday Independent by Milward Brown again shows Fine Gael with a commanding lead on 37%; Fianna Fáil recovering by 4% to 16% and Labour support again falling - down 3% to 20%.

And while this survey does not show Mr Kenny as the most popular leader, he is up by 11% to 41% - putting him second behind Mr Gilmore on 46%.