A few weeks ago, before the 31st Dáil was dissolved, Fine Gael was at over 30% in the opinion polls.
At least one Fine Gael minister was privately saying the party would easily add on about five or six points support during the election campaign.
The opposite has been the case. Support for Fine Gael has dropped in two successive Red C opinion polls with this morning’s poll in The Irish Sun putting the party at 26%.
The poll will have caused concern behind the scenes in Fine Gael. Micheál Martin’s jibe about Fine Gael wanting a coronation and not an election springs to mind.
Outgoing Fine Gael TDs who share a seat with a party colleague in their constituency will be particularly worried about their fate after this poll.
But Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton will put the poll result aside as they outline plans to grow Irish exports in Birr, Co Offaly.
The Fine Gael plan will pledge to increase exports by 6-8% each year and support at least 40% of the 200,000 new jobs targeted by 2020 in exporting companies.
The Taoiseach will also visit the Offaly and Galway West constituencies.
Tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton will launch Labour’s plan for Arts, Culture and Heritage, 'Standing Up for Irish Culture', in Dublin.
The Tánaiste will make a keynote speech. Special guest Garry Hynes, Artistic Director of Druid Theatre Company, will also speak.
Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Minister Kevin Humphreys will be in attendance, along with members of the arts community. The Tánaiste will canvass in Dublin West later.
Fianna Fáil will outline proposals and priorities for job creation in Dublin. The party’s spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mayo candidate, Dara Calleary and Meath East candidate Thomas Byrne will address the media at the party’s election headquarters in Dublin.
Separately, Micheál Martin will launch the party’s policy on Rural Ireland, the Gaeltacht, the Irish Language and the Islands in Galway.
Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín will launch his party’s proposals for dealing with the housing and homelessness crisis.
Roisin Shortall will introduce the Social Democrats 'Building an Irish NHS' policy in Dublin.
And People Before Profit will launch Manifesto on Youth and Equality on Kildare Street.
