Fine Gael still most popular party with election just weeks away, latest poll finds

Fine Gael remains the most popular party in the country, according to a new poll released ahead of the expected announcement of the general election this week.

The latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll shows Fine Gael support unchanged at 26 per cent.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also continues to be the political leader with the highest approval rating.

Simon Harris has 53 per cent support as party leader, ahead of Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin on 48 per cent and Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald on 33 per cent.

In the state of the parties, Fianna Fáil support has increased by one point to 20 per cent, while the slide for Sinn Féin continues, down one to 18 per cent.

Labour's also down one to 4 per cent support, and Aontú is down one to 3 per cent.

While the Greens (4 per cent), Social Democrats (6 per cent), People Before Profit (3 per cent) and Independents/Others (16 per cent) remain unchanged.

The poll of 1,832 people was carried out between November 1st and 2nd.