Handling the issues:Voters have more confidence in Bertie Ahern than Enda Kenny to deal with four of the six major domestic issues facing the country and they also think he would be a better representative of the country abroad.
On managing the economy, keeping taxes low, improving infrastructure and roads, representing the country abroad and crime, Ahern came out on top. Kenny came out ahead on two issues, improving the health service and providing affordable and good quality childcare.
On the economic issues, Ahern got the overwhelming backing of Fianna Fáil supporters and solid support across the other parties, with the exception of Fine Gael.
If voters choose a Government on Thursday based on which leader is best fitted to manage the economy Ahern will easily come out on top. Kenny's only hope is that people are actually telling the truth when they say that health is the major issue facing the country.
He was regarded by supporters of all parties, except Fianna Fáil, as better on the issues of health and childcare.
When asked to rate the two men on a series of issues Ahern's biggest lead was on the issue of who would best represent the country abroad, where 59 per cent expressed confidence in him compared with 25 per cent who backed Kenny.
He was almost equally far ahead on successfully managing the economy, with 55 per cent backing him as against 25 per cent for Kenny.
When it came to improving infrastructure, 48 per cent opted for Ahern as against 30 per cent for Kenny. The two men were close on the issues of improving public services and tackling crime but Ahern was marginally ahead.
On childcare Kenny was ahead by 38 per cent to 34 per cent and on improving the health service he had a significant lead of 42 per cent to 31 per cent.
