An opinion poll in today's Irish Examiner indicates that support for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats has increased, with the Labour Party dropping two percentage points.
The survey, which was carried out last week by Lansdowne Market Research, also shows Sinn Féin dropping a point with the Greens and Independents unchanged.
The results represent a modest boost for the Government and Fine Gael, but the 12-month gap since the last comparable poll diminishes their significance.
Nonetheless, the survey does show an unmistakable improvement in the Government's approval ratings.
45% of those polled said they were satisfied with the coalition's performance compared to 37% last year.
Party ratings show: Fianna Fáil up one at 39%; the PDs up one at 6%; Fine Gael at 24%, also up one; Labour down two at 10%; the Greens unchanged at 6%; Sinn Féin down one at 9%; and Independents unchanged at 6%.
Over four in ten people feel that Michael McDowell's emergence as leader of the PDs is a positive development, with 30% saying it is a bad thing.
More people may back his style but the results show he remains a polarising figure.
