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9 October 2014

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Sinn Féin neck-and-neck with Fine Gael in new 'Irish Times' opinion poll breakthrough


SINN FÉIN has drawn level with Fine Gael – the largest Government party – for the first time ever, according to a new poll for The Irish Times.

Publication of the poll comes on the eve of Dáil by-elections in Dublin South-West and Roscommon/South Leitrim, where the Sinn Féin candidates are Councillors Cathal King and Martin Kenny respectively.

The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll shows Fine Gael standing still at 24% but Sinn Féin drawing level with a 4-point rise in support when people were asked how they would vote if a general election was held tomorrow.

The Labour Party, Fine Gael’s partner in Government, sees a slight recovery in its previously falling fortunes, up 2 to 9%, more of a hiccup than a bounce after Joan Burton replacing Eamon Gilmore as leader and Tánaiste.

Fianna Fáil under Mícheál Martin has suffered a drop of 5, down to 20%.

Independents (reflecting all shades from Left to Right) are down 1 point to 23%.

The survey was undertaken on Monday and Tuesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,200 voters aged 18 and over, in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all constituencies.

The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8%.

The Irish Times says:

“The rise in Sinn Féin support since the local elections in May augurs well for the party’s chances in the Dublin South-West and Roscommon/South Leitrim by-elections tomorrow.

“The party has moved into first place in Dublin, where it has 26% of the vote. If it can retain that in the next general election it stands to win a significant number of seats in the capital.”

Leaders

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams sees a rise in his popularity by 2 points to 35%, well ahead of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny (down 4) and Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin (down 5), both now at 26%.

The ‘Burton bounce’ for Labour’s new leader comes in a rating of 37%.

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