Voters strongly favour cutting public spending rather than either borrowing or raising taxes as a means of balancing the public finances, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Asked how the Government should deal with the problem of being unable to pay for existing public services and capital projects out of existing resources, 48 per cent said it should cut spending. Some 29 per cent believe it should borrow more, with just 9 per cent favouring an increase in taxes.
The poll also shows substantial minority support for Fine Gael's call on the Government not to pay the benchmarking pay awards to public servants next year. Some 43 per cent believe the Government should pay the awards, amounting to just over €500 million next year, 37 per cent believe it should not pay these awards, while 20 per cent have no opinion.
On the Government's budgetary options, spending cuts were the choice of all age groups, social classes and regions and among supporters of all parties. Increasing taxes was also the least favoured option in all categories.
Voters gave these responses to the question: "The Government will not have enough money next year to pay for the existing public services and capital projects unless it either increases taxes, borrows more or cuts spending on services and projects. Do you think that the Government should increase taxes, borrow more or cut spending?"
While 37 per cent believe the Government should not pay the benchmarking awards, this figure is higher among supporters of Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats.
Among supporters of Fine Gael, whose leader Mr Enda Kenny recently said that the awards should not be paid because there had not been enough public-service reform, 47 per cent believe the money should not be paid, 40 per cent that it should and 13 per cent have no opinion.
PD voters also oppose payment of the awards, although poll analysis of small sub-groups such as PD supporters is less reliable than analysis of larger groups. According to the poll, 58 per cent of PD supporters believe the benchmarking awards should not be paid, 33 per cent that they should and 9 per cent have no opinion.
Labour supporters are the most committed to the benchmarking awards. Some 50 per cent say they should be paid, 38 per cent that they should not and 12 per cent have no opinion.
Pro-EU sentiment has increased slightly since last year, according to The Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Offered a choice between pro- and anti-European integration statements, a greater number opted for the pro-integration position, the poll shows.
Some 45 per cent said the statement that "Ireland should do all it can to unite fully with the EU" came closest to their personal view, up 2 percentage points since October 2002.
Some 40 per cent said the statement that "Ireland should do all it can to protect its independence from the EU" was closest to their view, down 2 points. No opinion was offered by 15 per cent, up one point.