Fine Gael marginally the most popular party in Ireland according to latest poll

Kenneth Fox

The first opinion poll of the general election campaign has shown Fine Gael is narrowly the most popular party in the country.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin all placed within four per centage points of each other.

Online and telephone polling of more than 1,200 people by Red C for the Business Post shows things are tight at the top.

They surveyed people between the 1st and 8th of November in the run-up to the election being called.

The results show Fine Gael unchanged as the most popular party in the country at 22 per cent support.

Fianna Fáil is marginally behind at 21 per cent;

While Sinn Féin rises one point to 18 per cent support;

15 per cent of people support independents;

Social Democrats up 1 to 6 per cent;

Aontú up 2 to 5 per cent;

Green Party are up 1 to 4 per cent;

Labour Party are down 1 to 3 per cent;

Independent Ireland is down 2 to 3 per cent;

People Before Profit/Solidarity are down 1 to 3 per cent