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SINN FÉIN IS hot on the heels of Fine Gael in a new opinion poll, with places the opposition party just 1% behind the main coalition partner.
The latest Sunday Independent/Millward Brown poll puts Fine Gael at 25% (down 4) and Sinn Féin at 24% (up 4).
When ‘don’t knows’ are included, the two parties are neck-and-neck at 17%. In a previous poll, Sinn Féin were six points ahead.
Others are also performing strongly at 23% (up two), although no breakdown is provided, while the Green Party falls back from 2% to 1%.
There’s a promising result for the lagging Labour party in this poll, as the change in leadership is seemingly already having an effect.
The party’s support is up one-point to 8%, while party leader Joan Burton is enjoying a surge in approval compared to her predecessor Eamon Gilmore.
In the previous survey in April, 69% were dissatisfied with Gilmore as leader while just 16% were satisfied.
Burton’s approval rating has now jumped to 27%, putting her on par with Taoiseach Enda Kenny (unchanged) and Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin (up one).
There’s bad news for Sinn Féin on this front – Gerry Adams‘ slow decline in popularity since Feburary has continued, he’s now at 25% (down one).
The majority of voters (53%) believe that Burton will now change the government’s austerity policies, while 52% believe Labour should pull out of government if austerity is not relaxed.
So, to recap:
All figures are with ‘dont knows’ excluded. When included, they make up 31% of the poll.
But now, on to more important* matters – who’s to blame for the Garth Brooks debacle?
This was also put to the public in the Sunday Independent/Millward Brown survey.
It’s an even split between Aiken Promotions and Dublin’s city manager Owen Keegan, with 17% of people saying that they are most to blame.
The country-western signer himself came under fire from 15%, while 14% believe that local residents are most to blame, and 11% the GAA.
The nuclear option was taken by 7%, who think they’re all to blame.
*Joke. Joke!
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Is there a chance the track would bend?
@Barry Goodwin: if ya have nothing good to say just say nothing!
@Barry Goodwin: haha Barry. Now I have that song stuck in my head.
@Barry Goodwin: Not on your life my Mancunian friend.
@Elrond Rivendell: what about us brain dead slobs?
@Stephen Boland: you’ll be given cushy jobs
@Stephen Boland: you’ll be given cushy jobs!
@Thomas McDonnell: were you sent here by the devil?!
@Fergal O’Hagan: Not unless you’re Gary Neville!
@Fergal O’Hagan: No good sir I’m on the level
Any chance of some public transport on the Northside? Sick of sitting ages in traffic AT 6am! Whats happening with Metro North? Or are we going to be constantly vilified for having to use the car? I have osteoarthritis before anyone mentioning cycling!
@Lisa Jones: traffic at 6am, where?
@Dublin days: From Crossguns bridge right through Phibsboro and over the 2 luas lines and right up as far as the quays. Lights stay red longer, lanes have been reduced to one lane. I have been working the whole last year starting work at 6.30am and traffic is getting mental. Yes even that early, most likely by people trying to avoid getting caught up in rush hour traffic.
@Lisa Jones: Metrolink – Metro North was the old plan – is still going ahead.
Is the electrification of the line to Maynooth included as was suggested last year? I don’t see it mentioned here but it has been on the table for years. Let’s hope this isn’t another endless pipe dream consultative process that will cost the taxpayer millions without a single sod turned like Metro North, the Royal Canal Greenway deep sinking project, the DART extension to Maynooth. Consultants and engineers making money left, right and centre for flashy drawings and brochures of fictitious, never to be built infrastructure.
https://www.newstalk.com/news/irish-rail-reveals-details-plan-extend-dart-maynooth-1066555
Extension from Heuston…does the dart go to Heuston??
@dreiglaser: Not sure if you missed it but it says in the article a feasibility study and concept design would be undertaken for a future station at “Heuston West” (I assume that is within walking distance from the main Heuston station and it is a change stop), that line would run from Hazelhatch to Connolly via the Phoenix Park Tunnel
Well I hope they have better success than reopening the current line to navan, wasn’t even a priority for the greens
@Hugh Mc Donnell:
Public transport in Ireland is for the fairies.
@iohanx: there must be an election coming up, the usual empty promises and grand plans. Do politicians really think we believe this nonsense. It’s going on years now, metro North an underground Harcourt line to Bray navan rail line
But there’s a train
@Sazzle: if you have nothing good to say just say nothing
@Mark Dit: Nothing
@Mark Dit: sometimes saying nothing is good. I enjoyed Paul’s saying nothing, brightened up my day no end did that.
@This time its personable!: this applies to you more than Paul
With the money in all of these reports and consultation over the years, they would have the price to pay for metro-north and the extension to the Dart line
Should be extended to Sallins/Naas. What a wasted opportunity.
@Tomo: it should be all the way at to Portlaoise
So as per usual with the semi state and the department of wasting money. This will take years. Cost millions more than it should and be over loaded before it launches.
Needs to include a revamp of Hazelhatch Station. Secure bicycle parking, quicker access to platforms, hourly shuttle bus into Celbridge, go-car spaces.
Stations and commuters. Need I say more
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