Election 2024: Fine Gael now third in polls following six point slip with just four days to go
Taoiseach Simon Harris, at West Airport Knock, Co Mayo, as the campaign enters the final week. Picture: Fergal Phillips
Support for Fine Gael has slid a massive six points in just two weeks, with Simon Harris's party falling to third with just four days to go to the general election.
The Irish Times/IPSOS B&A poll shows Fianna Fáil in the lead on 21%, up two points, with Sinn Féin up one to 20% and Fine Gael down six in just two weeks to 19%.
Independents and others are down three points to 17%, the Social Democrats up two to 6%, the Greens up one to 4%, Labour down one to 4% and People Before Profit and Aontú each unchanged on 3%.
The poll will be grim reading for Fine Gael after a campaign beset by controversy and missteps.
Especially concerning will be that not all of the polling was taken after a video of Mr Harris's interaction with a carer in a Cork supermarket went viral.
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The poll was carried out in person between November 20 and 23.
A still from the video clip of Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris meeting disability worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Friday night. Picture: RTÉ News
A clip from the campaign trail, which has now amassed millions of views showed Mr Harris disagreeing with an emotional Ms Fallon, who works with St Joseph’s Foundation, when she challenged him on his government's record.
The Taoiseach said that he "is human and made a mistake" following the interaction.
Asked about the incident on Sunday in Mayo, Mr Harris said that he was "holding his hands up" on the incident but was not "over-analysing" it.
"I'm human, I make mistakes. But you know what I do when I make a mistake? I own it," he said.
"I mean, there have been far too many occasions during general elections in this country and abroad where something goes wrong on the campaign trail and people dilly-dally and debate for days.
The Fine Gael leader went on to say: "I think people, I hope people, like to see humility in politics. If you get something wrong, you own it.
"I got that one wrong ... and no matter how many times I say that, that reality won't change. So I made the decision to put my hands up and to apologise. That's what I do. I'm a human and I make mistakes."
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