Approval of the Government and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has fallen for the third consecutive Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll, although Fianna Fáil support has increased modestly from the low point reached last June.
Fine Gael and Labour, meanwhile, have retained significant increases in support they showed last June at the expense of Fianna Fáil, but have failed to increase support further, despite the continuing fall in support for the Government.
The state of the parties is: Fianna Fáil 34 per cent, up 2 points since the last poll in June; Fine Gael 25 per cent, unchanged; Labour 14 per cent, unchanged; Sinn Féin 10 per cent, down one point; Green Party 5 per cent, up one; Progressive Democrats 4 per cent, no change; Others eight per cent, down one.
Core support for the parties is: Fianna Fáil 31 per cent, unchanged since June; Fine Gael 18 per cent, unchanged; Labour 10 per cent, unchanged; Sinn Féin 8 per cent, down one; Green Party 4 per cent, unchanged; Progressive Democrats 3 per cent, unchanged; Others seven per cent, unchanged; Undecided 19 per cent, up three.
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State. It comes after a fortnight of exchanges of high-profile criticism and abuse between Government and Opposition parties.
It also follows the high profile Rip-Off Republic television series which was very critical of the Government in relation to high prices.
Satisfaction with the Government and the Taoiseach has fallen significantly for the third poll running. A majority, 58 per cent, are dissatisfied with the Government, a rise of seven points since June and 16 points since January. Just 37 per cent are satisfied, down five points since June and 5 per cent have no opinion, down two points.
The parties to a possible alternative coalition - Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party - now have a combined support of 44 per cent, while the parties to the current Government - Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats - have the support of 38 per cent of voters. On these figures, both combinations would probably be short of what is required to form a stable government.
Support for all the parties has, however, remained virtually static since June. While dissatisfaction with the Government continues to grow, the parties to a possible alternative coalition have yet to capitalise on this.
While Fine Gael and Labour made statistically significant gains of three and two percentage points respectively in June's poll, the recent high profile both have given to their plans for an alternative government have not led to further increases.
Some 47 per cent are satisfied with the performance of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, a drop of seven points since June and 13 points since January. Exactly the same proportion is dissatisfied, up eight points since June and 6 per cent have no opinion, down one.
The voters' rating of Tánaiste Mary Harney remains virtually unchanged since June with 40 per cent satisfied with her performance, down one point. An unchanged 50 per cent are dissatisfied and 10 per cent have no opinion, up one point.
Some 38 per cent are satisfied with Enda Kenny's performance as Fine Gael leader, a drop of three points since June and seven points since January last. Some 31 per cent are dissatisfied, up two points and 31 per cent have no opinion, up one point.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte sees a drop of four points in his satisfaction rating to 44 per cent. Some 26 per cent are dissatisfied, up one and 30 per cent have no opinion, up three points.
There has been a small drop in satisfaction with Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, down four points since June to 34 per cent. Some 23 per cent are dissatisfied with his performance, unchanged, while 43 per cent have no opinion, up four.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams sees his personal satisfaction rating rise a marginal one point to 39 per cent. Some 36 per cent are dissatisfied with his performance, down 5, and 25 per cent have no opinion, up four points. In Dublin and other urban areas Fianna Fáil support remains weakest while it is strongest among rural voters. Fine Gael and Labour are running neck and neck in the capital, significantly ahead of Sinn Féin.