New poll shows Labour surge

A new poll showed support for the Labour Party rose dramatically in the past month, leaving Fianna Fail trailing in third place.

However, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe today said the results could have been worse.

The Sunday Business Post/Red C poll recorded a seven point surge in support for Labour to 24 per cent, while Fine Gael remains in front with 33 per cent, down two points from previous polls.

Fianna Fail lost 1 per cent to 23 per cent, according to the poll.

Speaking on RTE's This Week programme, Mr O'Keeffe said it was not surprising that support had fallen for his party given the events of the past few weeks.

"This is not a comforting poll as far as far as Fianna Fail is concerned," he said.

"But you have to look at the circumstances of this poll, taken in the aftermath of the Labour conference, a very good speech from Eamon Gilmore, taken in the week the controversy of the pensions issue related directly to our people. One would have thought Fianna Fail could have in fact lost more."

However, he said the one point loss was within the margin of error, and promised the party would be taking action to stem any further loss and increase support.

"We have a belief and conviction... that we have to take stern measures and we have taken those measures. By taking those measures, we can restore the economy to good stead. We feel that we've rounded the corner," he said.

"We feel in the longer term people will see in two years time when we're going to the country in 2012 that we will have turned around this economy, that there will be an upswing generally speaking, and that people will judge us on the courage and leadership we showed as a Government."