Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney reiterated today that she does not intend to continue to lead the party and said she hopes it can elect a leader shortly.
The Minister for Health, who is acting PD leader, said her "sole focus" is reforming the health service and she intends to continue with that.
Questioned about the findings of today's Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, Ms Harney said she had not studied it because she had been focused on the talks on medical consultants' contracts in recent days.
The poll puts Ms Harney's satisfaction rating as party leader at 35 per cent, the same as her rating when the last such poll was carried out in October 2007.
"Polls, outside the context of a general election, aren't that meaningful quite honestly. . . . But I'm happy to say that I understand the three Government parties have increased their ratings in the poll from the last occasion when The Irish Timesdid a poll," she said.
When asked, Ms Harney said the poll did not make her reflect on the Taoiseach's position. The survey puts Mr Ahern's satisfaction rating as Fianna Fáil leader at 40 per cent, down three points on the last such poll.
Ms Harney agreed to take on the role of acting leader of the PDs after Michael McDowell stepped down and retired from politics when he lost his Dáil seat in the general election of May last year.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Harney said: "I'm an acting party leader, I do not intend to stay as leader of the Progressive Democrats . . . the party will shortly elect a new leader."
Asked whether there will be a party to lead, she replied: "I certainly hope so. That's a matter for the members of the party and there's huge determination within the party . . . to reorganise and refocus.
"Last night we had a very good meeting of the national executive of the party and I hope that shortly the party will be in a position to select a member to carry forward the work of the party over the next number of years.
"As somebody that led the party for almost 14 years, it is not my intention to stay in this position, I'm simply doing it because of the disappointing result we had in the last general election."