A clear majority of voters believes the child abuse commission should investigate each of the 1,700 complaints of abuse made to it rather than just a sample of these cases, as proposed by the Government, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent.
The Government is also blamed more than anyone else for the delays in the work of the commission, which led to the controversial resignation of its chairwoman, Ms Justice Laffoy, earlier this month.
According to the Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll, 60 per cent believe the child abuse commission should investigate each of the complaints; 33 per cent that it should investigate a sample of the cases and draw conclusions from them; while 7 per cent have no opinion.
The poll results come after the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, told abuse survivor groups this week that the "sampling" proposal, whereby the commission would investigate only a small number of abuse allegations and draw general conclusions from this, was not now on the table.
Instead, it has been proposed that all complainants who wish to will be allowed confront their alleged abusers in private at the commission's confidential committee without lawyers present.
The poll shows that support for investigating each complaint is strongest among 18- to 24-year-olds and gets weaker the older voters get. Women also favour investigating each case more than men. The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State last Monday and Tuesday.
Some 36 per cent blame the Government for the hold-ups in the work of the child abuse commission. Some 31 per cent blame the religious orders, 14 per cent the legal profession, 4 per cent the commission and 15 per cent have no opinion.
These opinions are consistent across all age groups and regions. However, supporters of the Government parties - 27 per cent of Fianna Fáil and PD supporters - attach less blame to the Coalition. In contrast 47 per cent of Fine Gael supporters and 42 per cent of Labour Party supporters blame the Government.
Meanwhile the proposed ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants from January next continues to win clear public approval, with 56 per cent supporting it, 40 per cent against and 4 per cent having no opinion.
This represents a slight narrowing of the gap since a similar Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll last February showed 59 per cent in favour, 36 per cent against and 5 per cent with no opinion.