Polls install Gallagher as favourite for presidency

Three opinion polls just published say the Independent Seán Gallagher remains on course to be the ninth President of Ireland.

The Sunday Business Post and Sunday Times polls both have him with 14 and 12-point leads over Labour's Michael D Higgins, with a slightly smaller gap in a survey for the Sunday Independent.

One of the polls is also putting Sinn Féin as the second most popular party in the country.

Despite a focus on Seán Gallagher's Fianna Fáil past and business dealings, he is still the people's choice in the race for the Aras.

He goes up 1 point to 40% in the Red C tracking poll for the Sunday Business Post.

Michael D Higgins goes down one to 26%, Martin McGuinness is unchanged on 13%, David Norris goes up 3% to 10%, Gay Mitchell goes down two to 6%, Dana goes up 1% to 3%, and Mary Davis is down one to 2%.

The Behaviour and Attitudes Poll for the Sunday Times has Seán Gallagher on 38%, Michael D Higgins on 26%, Martin McGuinness on 17%, Gay Mitchell on 8%, David Norris on 6%, Mary Davis on 3% and Dana on 2%.

That poll also puts Sinn Féin as the second most popular party in the State for the first time on 19% up 2%.

Fine Gael is up 1% to 37%, Fianna Fáil is unchanged on 15%, with Labour also on 15% up 1%, Independents unchanged on 13% and the Greens down 3% to just 1%.

It also says both referendums will be carried with comfortable majorities.

A third poll for the Sunday Independent puts Seán Gallagher in the lead on 41%, with Michael D Higgins on 31%.