THE Taoiseach and Fine Gael achieved their highest rating, the Labour Party its lowest since the last general election in the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll, published today.
The general level of support for Labour has plummeted to 10 per cent. If repeated in the next general election, the party could lose half of its seats in the Dail.
Mr Bruton has scored his highest personal rating of 56 per cent, in or out of government, for the past number of years. For the first time since the formation of the three party Coalition, he is leading the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, by four percentage points.
When the don't knows, representing 14 per cent, are excluded, the state of the parties is Fianna Fail, 47 per cent, down one point since November Fine Gael, 26 per cent, up two points Labour, 10 per cent, down two points Progressive Democrats, 7 per cent, up two points Democratic Left, 2 per cent, no change Green Party, 3 per cent, down one point and others 5 per cent.
There is bad news for Mr Spring also in the ratings for the party leaders, with a drop in support of six percentage points since last September. The level of satisfaction is as follows Ms Harney, 62 per cent Mr Ahern, 57 per cent Mr Bruton, 56 per cent Mr Spring, 52 per cent and Mr De Rossa, 41 per cent.
The level of satisfaction with the Government stands at 42 per cent.
