THE results of the Irish Times/MRBI poll prompted sharp exchanges between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, last night. The Taoiseach said Fianna Fail should insist that its former leader, Mr Charles Haughey, give evidence to the Dunnes tribunal.
Mr Bruton said Mr Haughey had "simply not turned up". He hoped Fianna Fail would indicate that its former leader was now going to appear.
But Fianna Fail's chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, said Mr Bruton was being economical with the truth and knew well Fianna Fail had written three times to Mr Haughey asking him to cooperate with the tribunal.
In a statement last night, a Fine Gael TD, Mr Charles Flanagan, accused Fianna Fail of a cosmetic attempt to encourage Mr Haughey to give evidence.
MA Bruton, asked in an RTE radio interview if Fine Gael - had been damaged by its evidence to the Dunnes tribunal, said: "Fine Gael appeared at the tribunal. That has skewed the pitch a little because the former leader of Fianna Fail, without any comment from his own party, has simply not turned up; he hasn't given evidence at all.
"Obviously, that has placed the focus in an unbalanced way and may well be the explanation for what has happened in the polls, but I hope that will change in terms that this time Fianna Fail will indicate that their former leader should appear before the tribunal and won't sit on the fence on that any more.
Did he think that would happen before the general election?
"They were very insistent a few weeks ago that I should appear before the tribunal before a general election; it is now up to Fianna Fail to say very clearly to Mr Haughey, the former leader of their party, that he should go in and tell the full story."
Mr Bruton also said the Irish Times/MRBI poll would not have any effect on the timing of the general election. "We'll decide on the basis of the best time to ensure that we can continue with the positive programme of government action on education, jobs and all those other issues. The best time for that will be the time to consult the people."
He did not think it was reasonable to allow opinion polls, however volatile, to affect the planning of the Government's programme for the next five years. This Government, he was confident, would be elected because it was a good Government.
For the first time in 10 years they had a Government that was working well and was stable. "Governments led by the main opposition party - three of them fell and they weren't stable."
He insisted he was not particularly disappointed with the results of the poll. "The poll shows a very, very high satisfaction rate for the Government - one of the highest ever in terms of the way the Government is running the country. I think that's what is really important."
On the issue of Mr Haughey and the tribunal, Mr Dermot Ahern said the Taoiseach was being economical with the truth. "He knows right well that the Fianna Fail Party wrote on three different occasions to Charlie Haughey, asking him to co operate fully. Fianna Fail sent letters to Mr Haughey and all former parliamentary members of our party stating that Fianna Fail believes that it is in the national interest that all persons with whom the tribunal is concerned should fully cooperate and assist the tribunal."
Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, said the decline in Fine Gael support from 30 to 26 per cent was from the highest level the party had achieved in five years.
Even though the level of support had decreased, that support had not gone to the Progressive Democrats or Fianna Fail 1 per cent had transferred to Labour, 1 per cent to the Greens and 2 per cent were don't knows.
"It is as clear as crystal that the election will be about attracting the 17 per cent who have not made up their mind," Mr Noonan said.
Mr Noonan said that the Labour Party was likely to benefit from British Labour's election win.
"The Progressive Democrats, and Fianna Fail are the old fashioned conservative parties in this country. If people decide to stay with modern men and women into the next century, they will vote with the Government, or they will vote Fianna Fail/PD if they want old fashioned polities."