The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, is the public choice to take over as leader of Fianna Fáil, according to a poll in today's Irish Times.
The Ipsos MRBI poll found that a majority of voters want Brian Cowen to step down as Taoiseach before the next election.
This poll was conducted by Ipsos MRBI on Monday and Tuesday and whether the results would be the same after the grim figures on the banks and the forthcoming Budget announced yesterday is another question.
According to the poll results in this morning's Irish Times, 61% of voters think the Taoiseach should step down before the next election, compared to 29% who want him to remain, and 10% who are undecided.
If there was a vacancy, Brian Lenihan is in the lead position to take over - 39% of voters pick him as the next leader of Fianna Fáil. Micheál Martin has the support of 18%, Mary Hanafin has 8% and Dermot Ahern 6%.
