General election 2016 - Last throw of the dice for moderates

Three weekend opinion polls varied to such a degree that making predictions about how the next Government might be formed — or even led — became even more problematic.

In numerical terms the differences were not huge, though the undecided vote ranged from 9% to 17%, but even a shift of one or two points could prove decisive in the kind of mix-and-match kaleidoscope anticipated for the next Dáil.

One poll — in The Sunday Business Post — recorded a two point increase for Fine Gael (30%) and a fall of four for Sinn Féin (16%) and suggested the coalition’s campaign, which if it was one of the great old European folktales would be ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’, might prevail.