The Government, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil are staging a dramatic recovery in the wake of the December Budget and have achieved their highest levels of public support since the 2002 general election, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Satisfaction with the Government has risen to 52 per cent, up nine percentage points since the last poll in October and 18 points since a similar poll last June. Forty per cent are dissatisfied, down nine points, and an unchanged 8 per cent have no opinion.
With Fianna Fáil support up three points to 38 per cent and the Progressive Democrats up one point to 4 per cent, the Coalition parties are for the first time approaching the support levels required to secure a third term.
Sinn Féin support has remained steady despite the sustained political condemnation of the party leadership in the wake of the Northern Bank raid and the controversy over the party's claim that the murder of Jean McConville was not a crime.
Party support has fallen just one point since October to 11 per cent, although disapproval of Mr Gerry Adams's leadership of his party has risen a full 14 points to 38 per cent.
The state of the parties is: Fianna Fáil 38 per cent, up three percentage points since the last Irish Times/ TNS mrbi poll last October; Fine Gael 22 per cent, down two points; Labour 13 per cent, unchanged; Sinn Féin 11 per cent, down one point; Progressive Democrats 4 per cent, up one; Green Party 4 per cent, unchanged; others 8 per cent, down two.
Core support for the parties is: Fianna Fáil 36 per cent, up four points since October; Fine Gael 17 per cent, down one; Labour 10 per cent, up one; Sinn Féin 9 per cent, unchanged; Progressive Democrats 3 per cent, unchanged; Green Party 3 per cent, unchanged; others 7 per cent, down one; undecided 16 per cent, down three.
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters throughout all constituencies.
It was conducted just before the IRA's official denial on Tuesday night of involvement in the Northern Bank robbery.
This is the second consecutive poll to show significant rises in support for the Government, Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil. The October turnaround followed a Cabinet reshuffle and a consistent message from the Government that it had become more caring and responsive to public opinion.
This latest poll may have been influenced by the recent Budget, with its concentration on spending on disability, relief for first-time house-buyers and targeted social spending.
Sixty per cent are satisfied with the way Mr Ahern is doing his job as Taoiseach, up seven points since October to the highest level since the eve of the 2002 general election. Some 33 per cent remain dissatisfied, down eight points and 7 per cent have no opinion, up one. The satisfaction rating of the Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Harney, remains unchanged at 54 per cent.
While Mr Enda Kenny's personal rating is marginally down since October, he remains well above the low figures he scored consistently for the previous two years. Forty-four per cent are satisfied with the Fine Gael leader's performance, down two points, 26 per cent are dissatisfied, up one, and 30 per cent have no opinion, up one.
Mr Pat Rabbitte's satisfaction rating is unchanged at 49 per cent; 25 per cent are dissatisfied with his performance as Labour Party leader, unchanged, and 26 per cent have no opinion, also unchanged.
While the Sinn Féin leader's satisfaction rating is down nine points to 42 per cent, there has been a 14-point rise in his dissatisfaction rating to 38 per cent. Some 20 per cent have no opinion, down five points.
Finally 33 per cent are satisfied with Mr Trevor Sargent's performance as Green Party leader, down two points since October; 22 per cent are dissatisfied, up two points and 45 per cent have no opinion, down two points.