FG emboldened by poll findings

Fine Gael's Phil Hogan said today the findings of a new opinion poll show his party is on course to be the largest in the Dáil after the next general election.

The Red C poll, published today, puts support for Fine Gael at 33 per cent, an increase of 3 per cent on the previous such poll.

The Labour Party is up five points to 27 per cent, while Fianna Fáil is  unchanged on 24 per cent. The Green Party fell three points to 2 per cent, while Sinn Féin was down two points to 8 per cent.

When asked who they would like to see as the next taoiseach, 40 per cent opted for Labour's Eamon Gilmore, 29 per cent chose Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and just 18 per cent favoured Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Some 14 per cent said none of the above.

The poll of over 1,000 people was conducted earlier this week, after Mr Kenny won a confidence vote on his leadership of the party. Some 29 per cent of people said the way he dealt with the challenge from his former deputy Richard Bruton gave them more confidence in his ability to be taoiseach. A total of 21 per cent said they were less confident and 49 per cent said it made no difference.

Enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said the poll “reconfirms” Fine Gael as the country’s largest party. He told RTÉ Radio that Mr Kenny deserves great credit for the way he dealt with the leadership issue.

“He showed great courage, resilience and calmness in a crisis,” said the Carlow-Kilkenny TD, who is being tipped as one of the main contenders to replace Mr Bruton as deputy leader when Mr Kenny announces his new front bench. “People have always underestimated the capacity of Enda Kenny to lead the country”.

The margin of error in the poll, which was published in the Sunday Business Post, is 3 percentage points.

The Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll, published earlier this month, put Labour at 32 per cent, Fianna Fáil at 17 and Fine Gael at 28. On the party leaders, Mr Cowen received a satisfaction rating of 18 per cent (down eight points); Mr Kenny was on 24 per cent (down seven points); Mr Gilmore was on 46 per cent (no change); John Gormley, 21 per cent (down three points) and Gerry Adams, 31 per cent (no change).

According to the Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll, 40 per cent of voters did not want either Mr Cowen or Mr Kenny as taoiseach.

A total of 30 per cent favoured Mr Kenny for the taoiseach’s office while 21 per cent favoured Mr Cowen and 9 per cent had no opinion. Mr Gilmore was not offered as an option.