No change to election timing on back of opinion poll boost, Taoiseach insists

Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking to the media at Government Buildings, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Taoiseach has dismissed any suggestion he could push for an earlier general election on the back of favourable opinion poll numbers.

Simon Harris, who has previously made clear he would like to see the Government run full term into next year, said his position in relation to the timing of an election has not changed.

He was asked whether the results of the latest Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent had made him think about calling an early election.

The poll suggests a slide in support for Mary Lou McDonald’s Sinn Fein (Brian Lawless/PA)

The poll indicated Fine Gael and Sinn Féin are now neck and neck on 22% – with Mr Harris’s party experiencing a three point increase in support in the last month, compared to a sharp seven point drop for Sinn Féin.

Fianna Fáil was up one point to 17%.

The largest grouping was represented by independents – on 23%.

Mr Harris’s personal approval rating increased to 48% – level with Fianna Fáil leader and Tánaiste Micheál Martin – while Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald’s approval rating dropped four points to 36%.

The poll came ahead of Friday’s European and local council elections in Ireland.

There will also be a vote for the first directly elected mayor of Limerick.

We have a lot of work to do and I'm fully focused on it

Friday will be the first time Ireland goes to the polls in four years.

Sunday’s opinion poll asked voters how they would vote in a general election if it was called tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters in Co Mayo, Mr Harris said he was advising his party faithful not to focus on opinion poll results and instead concentrate on the real elections.

“Of course, it’s always better to be up in a poll than down in a poll, but there’s a poll taking place on Friday,” he said.

“The only thing I want Fine Gael members and supporters to do in relation to the poll this weekend is not pay any attention and keep the eye on the fact that polls will open on Friday and there’ll be an opportunity for people to go out and vote in the local elections and in the European elections right across the country.”

In relation to the likely date of a general election, he added: “The position in relation to the timing of the next general election certainly hasn’t changed.

“This Government has a lot of work to do.

“I’ve tried to hit the ground running in terms of making progress on a number of issues. When it comes to housing, we’re now seeing 350 homes every working day be built in Ireland. We’ve managed over the last couple of weeks to take a number of steps including trying to improve services for children with a disability with additional investment into assessments of need.

“We’ve managed to make some progress on issues that people have been talking about for a long time in terms of recognising the state of Palestine.

“We’ve also managed to take I think a more balanced approach to migration in terms of taking a number of important decisions as well.

“We have a lot of work to do and I’m fully focused on it.”