Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has blamed "badly handled" Government decisions for a poor showing in today's opinion poll in The Irish Times.
Support for Fianna Fáil has fallen by 9 per cent since the General Election, according to the TNS/mrbi poll, which also shows satisfaction with the Government has by dropped by 15 per cent to 37 per cent since a similar poll carried out before the May election.
Satisfaction with Mr Ahern is at 43 per cent, a drop of 15 per cent since the May opinion poll. Tánaiste Brian Cowen's satisfaction level is greater than Mr Ahern's at 49 per cent, while satisfaction with PD leader and former tánaiste Mary Harney is at 35 per cent.
The poll was taken after a succession of difficulties for the Government ranging from the Taoiseach's evidence at the Mahon tribunal to problems in the health service, the row over Shannon airport, the pay rise for Ministers and the provisional licence debacle.
Reacting to the findings today, Mr Ahern said: "I take the polls for what they are, a snapshot, reaction of people over a four-day period of a few decisions that they see were either not too bright, not well handled.
"I take my full responsibility, I head the Government so when it's good, as you always know I don't get the credit but when it's bad I get the blame, so I willingly do that and understand that."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny's satisfaction level is at 42 per cent down 6 points, Labour's new leader Eamon Gilmore is at 30 per cent, while the new Green Party leader recorded a satisfaction level of 40 per cent. Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams recorded a satisfaction level of 41 per cent, down 8 points.
The State of support for the main political parties is: FF 33 per cent (-9% since the election), FG 31 per cent (+4%), Labour 15 per cent (+5%), Sinn Fein 7 per cent (no change), PD 2 per cent (-1%), Greens 5 per cent (no change) and Independents 7 (no change). The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll was conducted on Monday and Tuesday.
Fianna Fáil TD and former minister, Mary O'Rourke, said the poll results were disappointing but said that such a result would not be unexpected so soon after a general election.
Commenting on increased support for Brian Cowen, Ms O'Rourke said Mr Cowen was "playing it steady" and said it was not time to seek a new party leader.
Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said the result was "very encouraging" and reflected disappointment that people were "being told to tighten their belts" and that "a lot of the things promised by the Government parties are not now apparently going to be fulfilled".
She added that "bungling" on the part of Government ministers and the Taoiseach in relation to "u-turns on driver testing or on the Shannon issue" indicated "there was a sense there was no leadership from the Government" which she said, was indicated in the poll.
Fine Gael's Michael Ring said he was "delighted" with the result.
He said the poll indicated how the Govermnent had "made a mess of the economy over the last couple of months" - which he said the Government would now have to "take the blame [for] now that things are going bad."