Sinn Féin inches further ahead in latest opinion poll

Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Sinn Féin has further increased its support, according to a new opinion poll.

The survey, carried out by Ireland Thinks for the Sunday Independent, indicates that support for Sinn Féin is at 34 per cent, up three percentage points on the July poll.

It indicates the party has made some gains since June when it was on 32 per cent, and March when it had gained support of 29 per cent.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has not been speaking publicly since she announced at the end of June she would be taking a “number of weeks” off to recover from surgery.

Personal news: I had surgery on Friday and am now recovering well. I expect to be back in action in a number of weeks. A million thanks to all the incredible staf at @RotundaHospital for your excellent care and kindness. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. Onwards and upwards

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) June 27, 2023

The August poll indicates that Fine Gael remains on 19 per cent; Fianna Fáil is on 18 per cent, down one percentage point; and the Green Party is on 5 per cent, up two percentage points.

The Social Democrats are at 5 per cent, down one point; Labour is at 4 per cent, up two points; Solidarity-People Before Profit is on 3 per cent, down one point; and Aontu is on 2 per cent, down one point.

In the wake of increased focus on Minister for Justice Helen McEntee over Garda recruitment numbers and safety issues in Dublin city, half of voters polled indicated they were not satisfied with her performance.

The poll was carried out on August 4th-5th among 1,272 adults, and has a margin of error of 2.8 per cent.

The 2020 General Election saw Sinn Féin’s popularity surge across all age groups, leading to it gaining 24.5 per cent of first-preference votes and 37 seats, up from 22 seats in the previous general election.

This compares to 20.9 per cent and 35 seats for Fine Gael, 22.2 per cent and 38 seats for Fianna Fáil and 7.1 per cent and 12 seats for the Green Party.

According to a poll carried out by Politico, Sinn Féin is on an average support of 32 per cent based on the past two years, while Fianna Fáil is on 21 per cent, Fine Gael is on 19 per cent and the Green Party is on 4 per cent.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has recently denied that there are any plans for an early general election.

Local and European elections are to be held in May or June next year, while a general election must be called by spring 2025.

Mr Varadkar has said he intends to lead his party into the next general election and hopes to form a government afterwards – and has categorically ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin.