Poll shows rise in support for Fine Gael and Simon Harris

Michael Bolton

A new opinion poll has shown a rise in support for Fine Gael, while the approval rating for Simon Harris has also increased.

The latest Irish Times/Ipsos opinion poll shows Fine Gael as the most popular party in the country at 27 per cent, a rise of four per cent.

Sinn Féin continue to fall in the polls, as they are at 20 per cent, a drop of three per cent, while Fianna Fáil have dropped by one to 19 per cent.

Labour is up by one to six per cent, while the Green Party is also up one to five per cent.

The Social Democrats are up by one to four per cent, with no change to People Before Profit at two per cent. Aontú remains at one per cent.

Independents are down one to 16 per cent.

The opinion poll also showed a huge rise in approval for the Taoiseach, with his approval rating surging to 55 per cent, an increase of 17 per cent.

Micheál Martin is up one to 47 per cent, while approval for Mary Lou McDonald continues to drop as she site at 30 per cent.

Roderic O’Gorman, the Green Party leader, debuts in this series with a satisfaction rating of 17 per cent. This is a drop of four per cent from the last poll as Eamon Ryan as leader.

The approval rating for the Government was also at its highest in two years at 40 per cent.

The positive results in this poll will increase pressure on the Government to call a general election in November, which has been heavily speculated.