New Survey Contains Mixed News For Political Heavies

The results of a new survey of people's political preferences contains mixed news for the major parties, with both major parties losing support to the Green Party and Sinn Féin.

According to the poll conducted by TNS/MRBI for The Irish Times, if an election was held tomorrow, the current Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat coalition would collect 38% of the vote, with the Fine Gael/Labour Party coming a close second with 37%.

PDs Down, Sinn Féin And The Greens Up Big

The Progressive Democrats, led by Tanaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell, saw their support collapse from 3% to 1%, despite Minister McDowell's approval rating soaring by 6% to 44%.

The big winners in the new poll are the Green Party, whose support rose 4 per cent to 8% and Sinn Féin who saw their share of the vote rise 2% to 9%. Fianna Fáil's support fell 3 per cent to 37%, Fine Gael was down 1% to 26%, Labour was unchanged at 11% and support for Independents was also unchanged at 8%.

Fianna Fáil and PDs Are Still Favorites

Despite the fall in support for Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats individually, their coalition still remains the favorite of most voters

Just under a third of those questioned by the survey wanted them to form the next government, compared to 29% who favored a Fine Gael/Labour government.

According to the results published in The Irish Times, a majority of people expect Fianna Fáil and Labour to form a new coalition if the election results in a hung Dail, but only about one in six would actually want to two parties to form the government.