Does Sinn Féin need to change tack after slump in the polls?

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The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent, down four since the last poll in April. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire
The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent, down four since the last poll in April. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:

  • The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent (down four), with Fianna Fáil on 22 per cent (no change) and Fine Gael on 17 per cent (up one). Given just 14% of voters feel Government is successfully tackling the country’s problems, does Sinn Féin need to find a new strategy in order to stimulate support?
  • One of the most notable findings of the poll is the clear growth potential around the Independents (up five) and new conservative parties like Aontú.
  • The poll also shows that support for the Occupied Territories Bill is softening with voters as just one-fifth of voters (20 per cent) say the Bill should be passed quickly, with a further 14 per cent saying its scope should be expanded and it should be passed quickly. The Bill, which would ban trade in goods with the occupied Palestinian territories, is due before the Dáil in the autumn.

Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:

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