A poll to be published tomorrow shows Fine Gael as the largest political party in the State, with Labour’s Eamon Gilmore as the favoured option for taoiseach.
The Red C poll shows support for Fine Gael on 33 per cent, an increase of 3 per cent on the previous such poll.
The Labour Party were up five points to 27 per cent, while Fianna Fáil were unchanged on 24 per cent. The Green Party feel three points to 2 per cent, while Sinn Féin were down two points to 8 per cent.
When asked who they'd like to see as the next taoiseach, 40 per cent opted for Mr Gilmore, 29 per cent chose Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and just 18 per cent favoured Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
The poll will be published in the Sunday Business Post tomorrow.
The Irish Times /Ipsos MRBI poll, published earlier this month, put Labour at 32 per cent, Fianna Fáil at 17 and Fine Gael at 28. On the party leaders, Mr Cowen gets a satisfaction rating of 18 per cent (down eight points); Mr Kenny is on 24 per cent (down seven points); Mr Gilmore is on 46 per cent (no change); John Gormley, 21 per cent (down three points) and Gerry Adams, 31 per cent (no change).
According to the Irish Times /Ipsos MRBI poll, 40 per cent of voters do not want either Mr Cowen or Mr Kenny as taoiseach.
A total of 30 per cent favoured Mr Kenny for the taoiseach’s office while 21 per cent favoured Mr Cowen and 9 per cent had no opinion. Mr Gilmore was not offered as an option.