The Taoiseach has conceded that Fianna Fáil will suffer losses in the forthcoming elections but denied that his party would take a battering.
Bertie Ahern made the comments at an event in Dublin, after an opinion poll published in the Sunday Business Post this morning indicated Fianna Fáil was in danger of losing many seats in the local elections.
The poll, carried out earlier this week, is likely to be the last major survey of opinion in the campaign.
According to this poll, Fianna Fáil support for the local elections is at just 29%, down three since the last Business Post poll three weeks ago.
Fine Gael is up one to 23%. Labour at 12 is unchanged, as is Sinn Féin at 11. The Greens are down two to 5% while the PDs are unchanged at 4 and others are up a substantial five points to 17%.
In the European elections, Fianna Fáil is up one at 33%.
Fine Gael is up three at 24. Labour is unchanged at 12. The Greens are down six points at just 4%. Sinn Féin is up one to 10% while others are up six to 18%.
In the Citizenship Referendum, the 'Yes' side has a clear majority of 54% while 29% say they will vote against and 17% are undecided.
