LEO BOUNCE BOOSTS FG AGAIN, BUT FF IS STILL CLOSE BEHIND
THE Leo bounce continues with Fine Gael at its most popular since the last general election, the latest Irish Daily Mail poll reveals today.
But the Ireland Thinks survey for the Mail shows that the new Taoiseach still has to look over his shoulder as Fianna Fáil has also gained ground.
Asked if there was an election tomorrow which party would they vote for, 32% of over 1,100 adults chose Fine Gael, up 1%. But Fianna Fáil was close behind, rising three points to 29%.
Sinn Féin has slipped back, amid controversy over an alleged bullying culture within the party, the resignation of half a dozen councillors since the start of the year, and its opposition to any new drive to bring the IRA murderers of Louth farmer Tom Oliver to justice. Gerry Adams’s party is down two points to 14% support, while the Labour Party is also down two points to just 5%.
The Greens are down one point to 3%, and the two-TD Social Democrats along with Solidarity/People Before Profit are unchanged at 2%. Support for the various Independents and others is up one point to 12%. Leo Varadkar will be buoyed by the fact that Fine Gael is now at its highest point (32%) since last year’s general election under Enda Kenny, when it won only 26% and lost one third of its Dáil seats. But Fianna Fáil has also gained since then, rising to 29% from 24%, and it is the first time since the bailout that the two have more than 60% between them.
Replicated in an election, they could govern in a grand coalition that would have the largest majority in the State’s history.