VOTERS ARE deeply pessimistic about the future of the economy and a majority does not think an alternative government would do any better, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll.
Voters also strongly rejected the view of Patrick Honohan, governor of the Central Bank, that the cost of the bank bailout was manageable.
The poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over, in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
Asked if they thought the worst was over for the economy, 70 per cent said the worst was yet to come,while 22 per cent thought the worst was over; 8 per cent had no opinion.
Sentiment has deteriorated since the last poll in June when 60 per cent felt the worst was yet to come and 31 per cent believed it was over.
Fianna Fáil voters were more optimistic than supporters of other parties but 54 per cent of them still thought the worst was yet to come.
Asked if they thought a change of government would improve the economic situation or have no impact on it, 45 per cent said it would have no impact, 39 per cent said it would improve the situation, 6 per cent thought it would make thinks worse and 10 per cent had no opinion.
Fianna Fáil voters were easily the most sceptical about the impact of a new government on the economic situation with 61 per cent saying it would make no difference and 15 per cent saying it would make things worse. Labour voters were the most optimistic about a change, 55 per cent saying it would improve things while 35 per cent thought it would make no difference.
When asked if they agreed with Mr Honohan that Ireland’s bank liabilities were manageable, 69 per cent said that they were not and 17 per cent thought they were.
Fianna Fáil and Green supporters were more inclined to accept the governor’s view than Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin voters but a majority in all parties rejected it.
The best-off AB voters were most inclined to accept the view that the bank liabilities were manageable.
Asked if the Government should stick by its target of reducing the budget deficit by €3 billion or doing more as suggested by Mr Lenihan, 54 per cent opted for the €3 billion target, while 26 per cent accepted that it should be more.