Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan have admitted that the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, which shows support for the Government plummeting, is "disappointing" but have pledged to continue with efforts to rescue the economy.
The poll shows public support for the Government, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil has collapsed to the lowest level recorded since Irish Timespolling began more than a quarter of a century ago.
The level of dissatisfaction with the Government is now 76 per cent, while 61 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the way Mr Cowen is doing his job.
The slide in the Government's fortunes comes after a month of controversy over the Budget on a range of issues including medical cards for the over-70s, education cuts and the postponement of a planned cervical cancer vaccination programme.
By contrast the poll not only puts Fine Gael ahead of Fianna Fáil for the first time ever in an Irish Timespoll, but gives it a substantial seven-point lead.
The adjusted figures for party support, compared with the last Irish Times poll in June are: Fianna Fáil, 27 per cent (down 15 points); Fine Gael, 34 per cent (up 11 points); Labour, 14 per cent (down 1 point); Sinn Féin, 8 per cent (no change); Green Party, 4 per cent (down 1 point); and Independents/others, 13 per cent (up 6 points).
In terms of satisfaction ratings, the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, is ahead of Brian Cowen for the first time with a rating of 33 per cent (down 2 points), while Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is up 3 points to 38 per cent.
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley has seen a substantial dip in his satisfaction rating to 28 per cent (down 12 points) while Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is on 33 per cent (down 12 points). The satisfaction rating of all the party leaders, with the exception of Mr Gilmore, has fallen since June.
Mr Cowen said today he had seen many ups and downs in his 34 years in politics.
"This is part of politics," he told reporters in Clara, Co Offaly. "The important thing is how the country reacts to the situation we now find ourselves in. My job as taoiseach is to lead a Government with the necessary policies that have to be adjusted to meet the situation we are now in."
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said the findings were “very disappointing”, but said the Government had to take "unpopular" decisions in recent months due to the “seismic change” in the economy.
“There were many decisions that had to be made that upset and annoyed people,” Ms Coughlan said. "It is very, very disappointing to see ourselves in this situation. Naturally we will take on board and analyse where this is coming from."
She insisted the Government would continue to act to cut costs in the economy while supporting the less well-off. Ireland faces a "huge economic and financial difficulty", she told RTÉ's Morning Irelandprogramme.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the findings were to be expected in the current financial climate.
“One cannot be governed by opinion polls on an ongoing basis. Governments govern to determine that Government for four to five years and you have to take a set of policies to ensure that the country comes through this, “ Mr Martin said in Cork this morning.
Mr Gormley said the results were understandable following the “tough” Budget.
“People are finding it difficult at this stage to get used to the fact that we are now in a very difficult economic situation and that there have been cutbacks,” Mr Gormley said in Cork. "But as far as the Green Party is concerned, we have to ensure that we implement the Programme for Government and the fact that we are doing that accounts for the stability in our own ratings."
Speaking at the launch of a post-Budget campaign in Dublin this morning, Mr Kenny described the poll results as "pretty devastating for Fianna Fáil backbenchers, many of whom would lose their seats if such figures were translated into an election situation."
"On this occasion the people have voiced their anger and their sense of desperation at what's going on here," said Mr Kenny.
He brushed aside questions over his 2 per cent satisfaction rating decline saying: "this is not about Enda Kenny, this is about my leading and building the Fine Gael team and my strategy is to make that team the strongest in the next Dáil."
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said recent polls have shown a “huge increase” in support for his party since the general election. “If yesterday’s poll were repeated in an election tomorrow, there would be a change of government, and Labour would be part of the new government.”