A NEW POLITICAL POLL of Irish voting intentions has revealed that Sinn Féin are now the second most popular political party in the country – with their likely voters now greater in number than those of Labour or Fianna Fáil.
An Ipsos MRBI poll published in this morning’s Irish Times shows that Sinn Fein would count on 18 per cent of voters’ support if an election was to be held tomorrow – higher than any party but Fine Gael.
Fine Gael’s support remains substantial with 35 per cent – one point lower than its general election performance, and 3 points lower than its showing in the last Irish Times poll published in late July.
Sinn Féin’s share of the vote, at 18, is up by a massive eight points on both the general election and the July poll.
Labour are beaten into third place, counting on the support of 17 per cent of voters – down over 2 per cent from February, and by one point on the previous poll.
Fianna Fáil, meanwhile, loses two points on its opinion poll showing to fall to 16 per cent and an unprecedented fourth place – down two points from the July poll and 1.4 per cent on the February election.
The Green Party holds its 2 per cent share of support, while the share reserved for independents and others falls by two points to 12.
The Irish Times’ political editor Stephen Collins this morning wrote that the Sinn Féin support showed a heavy split between genders, with men accounting for almost two-thirds of its likely voters.
Nonetheless, the party is clearly performing strongly on the back of Sinn Féin’s decision to nominate Martin McGuinness for the Presidential election.
A Red C poll published yesterday showed that some 70 per cent of people who voted for Sinn Féin in February were likely to vote for McGuinness in the Presidential election – by far the highest support of any candidate belonging to a political party.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny remains the most popular party leader in the State, with 51 per cent satisfaction. Labour’s Eamon Gilmore stands on 42 per cent.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin’s support drops nine points to 28, falling behind that of Gerry Adams who stands on 36, up by five.
The poll was carried out at the same time as the Irish Times’ presidential poll, and carries a margin of error of 3 per cent.
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