The popularity of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has hit an all-time low, according to an Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll to be published tomorrow.
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Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny is making steady though unspectacular progress while both Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, and Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams will view the latest satisfaction ratings with mixed feelings.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, has seen a fall off of four per cent in her popularity but her party's one per cent gain must be seen as encouraging in what are extremely difficult times for the Government.
The poll was taken at a time the health service is now generally accepted to be in crisis and Dublin's public transport plans can reasonably be described as a debacle. The collapse of the Laffoy Commission in its current form and the range of public spending cuts also contributes to the Government's poor showing.
While Fine Gael may take some comfort from Mr Kenny's showing his party has not recorded any significant improvement from the levels recorded at the last general election.
The party ratings have more encouraging news for Labour and Sinn Féin. Both are showing they are holding a steady around 20 and 10 per cent respectively.
The last Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll in May this year showed Labour on 22 per cent but they were experiencing a predictable bounce from the poll being conducted just after their Ard Fheis.
While they have fallen to 19 per cent this is still 8 points ahead of their general election showing and the leader is jointly the most popular among the parties. Mr Gerry Adams is on the same level as Mr Rabbitte and his party has gained a point maintaining its level around the 10 per cent mark.
Mr Trevor Sargent will be pleased to see his rating gain 3 points but his party rating, unchanged at 4 four per cent, it leaves the Greens as the fifth most popular party one point behind the PDs who gained a point.
Independents, including the Socialist Party whose leader, Mr Joe Higgins had been jailed for his part in anti-bin-charge protests at the time the poll was taken, are maintaining levels at around 10 per cent.
FF ..............
30% down 2%
FG ..............22% up 2%
Lab ............19% down 3%
Others
(incl Socialist Party)10% up 1%
SF ...............10% up 1%
Greens .......4% no change
PDs .............5% up 1%
Bertie Ahern ......
36% down 5%
Enda Kenny...... 29% up 3%
Mary Harney ......41% down 4%
Pat Rabbitte ......43% down 6%
Gerry Adams .....29% up 3%
Trevor Sargent ..30% up 4%
Poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday this week from a national quota sample of 1,000 electors in the State's 42 constituencies.
- All comparisons with poll in May 2003