Bruton disappointed at Fine Gael rating in opinion poll

The Fine Gael leader has said that he is quite disappointed at his party's rating in an opinion poll in today's Irish Times newspaper. The poll shows a drop of 4% in support for his party. John Bruton said that Fine Gael needs to present its case more convincingly to the public, but he said that his party was doing much better in some other recent polls. Asked about his own position, Mr Bruton said that Fine Gael had made a very deliberate decision to keep him as leader shortly before Christmas, but he said he did not know if there would be another challenge to his leadership.

The Government's popularity received a significant boost from last month's budget, according to the opinion poll. Voter satisfaction with the coalition and its leaders has increased significantly. The opposition may be pressing the Government on Tribunal related issues such as the Liam Lawlor affair, but it is the coalition that is getting thumbs up from voters. With seven out of ten of them believing that the Budget was good for the country, close to six in ten expressed satisfaction with the Government's performance.

The Irish Times MRBI poll also shows a big increase in satisfaction with coalition leaders: Bertie Ahern, at 66%, is up 11 points; Mary Harney, at 54%, is up 12 and Ruairí Quinn is up two at 48%. However, John Bruton, at 37%, is down three. The pollsters used a new, and they say, a more accurate, method to distribute undecided votes. This gives Fianna Fáil 4% - up one point since September; Fine Gael, at 20%, is down four; Labour, at 15%, is down two. The PDs at 4%; the Greens at 5% and Sinn Féin at 6% are up one point each. Others, including independents, the Workers' Party and the Socialist Party, are at 9% - up two.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Fine Gael's Ivan Yates said that the opposition parties had failed to get across the message that corruption was principally a problem for Fianna Fáil and not the other political parties. On the same programme, the Government Chief Whip said that the figures were encouraging. Seamus Brennan said that the Government's job is now to finish its programme over the next 18 months.