Support for Fine Gael has fallen by six points in urban areas according to an opinion poll in the Sunday Independent.
There was bad news also for new leader Mr Michael Noonan whose support rating is three points lower than that for his predecessor Mr Bruton in November last year.
Because of the foot-and-mouth scare, the sampling for the IMS poll was confined to urban areas representing 60 per cent of the electorate. Voters in these areas have shown themselves to be critical of Fine Gael's handling of the Telenor cheque controversy.
But there was some good news for Fianna Fáil with support for them at 51 per cent up six points since last month, but Mr Ahern's satisfaction rating has dropped four points to 63 per cent
The Progressive Democrats have dropped to three per cent, a fall of two points.
Sinn Féin has nine per cent support in urban areas ahead of the Greens who drop two points to 4 per cent. A group including the Workers Party and Independents are reported to have 15 per cent support.
Among the other party leaders the the Tánaiste, Ms Harney has 56 per cent approval, a fall of four points while Labour leader Mr Quinn has gained two points to 52 per cent.Mr Noonan's support rating stands at 32 per cent.
The Sunday Independent/IMS poll also showed that only 10 per cent of those surveyed believed businessman Mr Denis O'Brien when he says Esat Digifone, did not ask its former partner Telenor give £33,000 to Fine Gael.