Labour Party set up dedicated polling company in the 1990s

The late Labour Party TD Pat Upton, far right, with colleagues  Willie Penrose, Brendan Howlin and party leader Ruairi Quinn in the 1990s. Picture: Billy Higgins

The Labour Party set up a polling company which sent members out in Dublin to survey voters, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Irish Scientific Surveys was set up during the 1990s by former TD Pat Upton and a previous director of elections Niall Connolly, who are both listed as directors, with its purpose stated as "public opinion polling".