Support for Fianna Fáil has increased over the past two weeks but the Fine Gael-Labour alliance is still ahead of the outgoing government in the election race, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll.
The poll shows that support for Fianna Fáil has risen by 2 percentage points while support for Fine Gael is down 3 points.
However, Labour is up 3 points and the Progressive Democrats are down 1 point to give the alternative alliance a lead of 3 points with two weeks of the campaign to go.
The adjusted figures for party support are: Fianna Fáil 36 per cent (up 2 points); Fine Gael 28 per cent (down 3 points); Labour 13 per cent (up 3 points); Sinn Féin 10 per cent (no change); Greens 5 per cent (down 1 point); PDs 2 per cent (down 1 point); and Independents/others 6 per cent (no change).
The core vote for the parties is: Fianna Fáil 35 per cent (up 3 points); Fine Gael 22 per cent (down 1 point); Labour 10 per cent (up 3 points); Sinn Féin 8 per cent (no change); Greens 4 per cent (no change) PDs 1 per cent (down one point); Independents/others 5 per cent (no change); and undecided voters 15 per cent (down 4 points).
The survey, which coincided with the reestablishment of a power sharing executive in the North, showed a 1 point increase in the Taoiseach's satisfaction rating to 54 per cent, making him the most popular party leader.
Satisfaction with the Government was up 4 points to 47 per cent.
The most dramatic change in satisfaction ratings was that for the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, who was up 6 points to 47 per cent.
It was the highest rating achieved by Mr Kenny since he took over as leader of Fine Gael five years ago.
Pat Rabbitte's satisfaction rating was up 2 points to 50 per cent while Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams was up 5 points to 51 per cent.
The poll was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points around the country, just over a week into the election campaign and the controversy over Mr Ahern's finances.