A poll published yesterday shows 47 per cent of those questioned dissatisfied with the Government, with 46 per cent expressing satisfaction. The Sunday Independent/IMS national opinion poll, carried out last Thursday, also shows a decline in support for Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats since a similar poll in May, with Fianna Fail at 45 per cent, down two points, and the PDs at 3 per cent, down two points.
Voting intentions, excluding the 20 per cent undecided, put Fine Gael at 24 per cent (up two points), Labour at 15 per cent (up one point), the Green Party at 3 per cent (down two points) and Sinn Fein at 5 per cent (up one point). The Workers' Party remains at 1 per cent.
The Taoiseach's satisfaction rating is down two points since May to 55 per cent; the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, is down two points to 43 per cent; and the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, is down eight points to 48 per cent.
The Tanaiste and PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, at 57 per cent, scored the highest rating for a party leader.