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A new poll shows that Fianna F\u00e1il remains in the lead to be the majority partner in the next government.<\/p>\nA new poll shows that Fianna F\u00e1il remains in the lead to be the majority partner in the next government.<\/p>\n
The RED C poll, paid for by the Business Post newspaper, shows Mich\u00e9al Martin\u2019s party on 26% (+2), while Fine Gael has gone down seven points to 23% and Sinn F\u00e9in up by eight to 19%.<\/p>\n
In the smaller parties, The Greens are polling at 8%, up one, Labour on 4% and Solidarity-People Before Profit on 2%.<\/p>\n
The poll also shows that Independent candidates are feeling the pressure due to Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s popularity. Their support is down by two points to 14%.<\/p>\n
The poll sampled 1,000 people from January 16 to January 22, but the fieldwork ended before the first TV debate on Wednesday, and carries a margin of error of 3%.<\/p>\n
Health and housing remain major issues throughout the campaign and Sundays\u2019s poll is no different, just 12% of voters trust Fine Gael to manage the housing issue effectively.<\/p>\n
In health, no party fared extremely well; 14% of voters polled said they trust Fine Gael on this issue, 24% said they trust Fianna F\u00e1il to remedy the much maligned system, and 16% wanted to see Sinn F\u00e9in in government to fix it.<\/p>\n
In a reflection of their campaign message, Fine Gael is strongest of all the parties on the economy, with around 30% of voters polled saying it was their preference over the issue, compared to 24% backing Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s economic policies and 15% for Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n
The poll will be a boost to Sinn F\u00e9in, who has been polling strongly throughout the campaign, especially with younger voters, and are at times neck-and-neck with Fine Gael within the margin of error.<\/p>\n
If this polling is reflected on February 8, Sinn F\u00e9in could be part of a governing coalition, despite both Mr Martin and Fine Gael\u2019s Leo Varadkar ruling out any deal with Mary Lou McDonald\u2019s party.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s focus now will likely turn again to its absence from the leader\u2019s debate on RTE on February 4.<\/p>\n
The party has taken legal advice over whether they have grounds to fight the exclusion, which will be the second televised debate between Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in said its polling position gives it as much right as Fine Gael to be included in any such debates.<\/p>\n