Poll: Approval rating for Harris surges as McDonald’s declines sharply
Support for Fine Gael has increased, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos opinion poll, with approval ratings for Taoiseach Simon Harris surging since the last poll in early summer.
Support for Sinn Féin has fallen since the last poll, while the personal rating for party leader Mary Lou McDonald also declined sharply.
The results of the poll are likely to intensify pressure on Mr Harris to call an election after the budget.
Analysis: Jump in support for Fine Gael puts it seven points ahead of Sinn Féin
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Data: Full poll results
News in Ireland
- How Dublin gang caught up in ‘Ghost’ takedown grew bigger than Kinahan cartel in Ireland: Ghost, an Australian-run encrypted messaging platform, has become the latest secretive messaging system favoured by organised crime gangs to be infiltrated by international law enforcement.
- Limerick village mooted to host asylum seekers lacks services, says Minister: A rural Limerick village that was mooted to host up to 35 asylum seekers lacks services and public transport, Minister for Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan has said.
- MV Shingle sinking: Ship with infamous past to become exploration ‘magnet’ for scuba divers: A ship with an infamous past sank gently to the bottom of Killala Bay on Wednesday into a more honourable future as Ireland’s first artificial reef which will hopefully become an exploration magnet for scuba divers from all over the world.
- Simeon Burke complains he is being ‘shut out’ of Law Library without senior barrister to take him on: Simeon Burke, a brother of Enoch Burke and a qualified barrister, has written to the chairman of the Bar council complaining that he is being “effectively shut out” of membership of the Law Library and his ambition to practise as a barrister before the courts.
- Building blocks to a climate-just city: Dublin is an EU mission climate-neutral and smart city, its climate plan commits it to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but with a growing population, and an ingrained housing crisis, how can it reconcile its housing needs and climate goals?
- Weather forecast: Areas of fog will clear later this morning leaving a dry day with long spells of sunshine, turning hazy at times later. Highest temperatures of 20 to 24 degrees. Tonight will be dry with mostly clear skies. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees. The warm spell is set to continue until at least Saturday.
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Restaurant review
- New Mexican pot has happy diners and cocktail shaker running at full throttle: Parrilla, Jules Mak’s new restaurant in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, is all about “authentic Mexican cuisine”.
Opinion
Business
- London-based lender formally takes control of Press Up hospitality group: London-based lender Cheyne Capital has formally taken control of Press Up Hospitality Group and plans to invest fresh capital into a business founded more than a decade ago by Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan.
Sports
- Leinster go again searching for a fifth star after big-name signings: A year into the Jacques Nienaber experiment and the jury is still out. Had Ciarán Frawley’s late drop goal against Toulouse been a few metres to the right, ala his winning effort in Durban seven weeks later, hiring the Springboks’ two-time World Cup winning coach would have been hailed as a masterstroke.
World
- Hundreds wounded and at least 20 killed in second wave of explosions across Lebanon: Multiple locations across Lebanon including a funeral and a hospital car park were hit on Wednesday in a second consecutive day of explosions targeting the militant group Hizbullah that have rocked the fragile Arab country.
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