A new poll has shown a drop in support for both Coalition parties in one of the worst polls for the Government since Labour and Fine Gael came into office in March 2011.
The Red C poll for the Sunday Business Post shows support for Fine Gael is down three points to 26 per cent while support for Labour is down two points to 9 per cent.
The survey shows a sharp rise for Sinn Féin which is up five points to 21 per cent. The poll shows no change for Fianna Fáil or for Independents at 22 per cent each.
The poll was taken on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last in the midst of the Garda controversy. On Tuesday Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan resigned and news of the taping at Garda stations emerged, while on Wednesday Minister for Justice Alan Shatter apologised to whistleblowers and came under intense pressure to resign from Opposition politicians .
The news comes less than two months ahead of the local and European elections on May 23rd.
An Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll in December put Fine Gael at 30 per cent, Labour at 9 per cent, Fianna Fáil at 22 per cent, Sinn Féin at 21 per cent and Independents/Others at 18 per cent.
