The electorate has indicated its priorities for the coming general election in the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll. The findings indicate the issues most likely to shape the political landscape as the Coalition Government and the opposition parties seek to gain advantage over one another and appeal to the interests of the general public. The poll has confirmed that health issues remain at the top of the electorate's agenda.
The concern is so great that almost three-quarters of those surveyed would forego further tax cuts in favour of better health services. The growing political importance of the issue, fuelled by public debate and some Government proposals to address the problems, can be measured. One year ago, 34 per cent of respondents identified health, hospital and medical services as issues that would influence their votes in a general election. That figure now stands at 65 per cent.
The other key change in public sentiment relates to crime/law and order issues. Some 82 per cent of those surveyed believe that the level of street violence has increased during the past four years, in spite of election promises made by the Government. While only 14 per cent of those surveyed a year ago quoted crime/law and order as an issue that would influence their vote, that figure has now grown to 40 per cent.
The importance of education as an influencing factor on voting intentions, following industrial unrest within the sector, has also increased from 17 to 26 per cent and this concern is particularly evident in the younger age cohorts. The importance of honesty in politics has also become a more pressing issue, with 26 per cent saying it will influence their vote, compared to 15 per cent last year.
The growing affluence of society and higher employment rates may be reflected in diminished concern over prices and the cost of living. Last year the cost of living was regarded as the second most important election issue, at 29 per cent; now it has been quoted as one of the three top issues by only 1 per cent of the electorate. The importance of housing as an election issue with the public remains largely unchanged, at 21 per cent. Taxation issues were also stable with 17 per cent indicating their votes would be influenced by the Government's actions. But roads congestion and traffic problems have moved rapidly up the public's agenda to fifth place, at 25 per cent.
There is plenty of material here for the Government and opposition parties to digest as they prepare for a general election that must be held within 13 months. The finding that health and hospital care is not only top of the public's agenda, but that nearly three-quarters of the electorate would be prepared to forego tax cuts in order to pay for better services, is particularly striking. It should add considerable weight to the case made by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, when he brings his spending estimates to Cabinet within the next few months.