(03/06/09) -

Main Irish Parties Losing Backers to Labour

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Public backing for Ireland’s top two political parties is eroding, according to a poll by Red C published in the Sunday Business Post. 30 per cent of respondents would vote for Fine Gael in the next legislative election, down three points since January.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Public backing for Ireland’s top two political parties is eroding, according to a poll by Red C published in the Sunday Business Post. 30 per cent of respondents would vote for Fine Gael in the next legislative election, down three points since January.

Fianna Fáil is behind with 23 per cent, down five points in a month. In contrast, the Labour Party has gained momentum with a support rate of 22 per cent—up eight points—followed by Sinn Fein with 11 per cent, and the Green Party with six per cent.

In May 2007, Irish voters renewed the House of Representatives. Fianna Fáil finished in first place with 41.6 per cent of the vote and 78 lawmakers, followed by Fine Gael with 27.3 per cent and 51 legislators, and Labour with 10.1 per cent and 20 representatives. In June, Bertie Ahern was ratified as prime minister, with the support of Fianna Fáil, six Green lawmakers, two members of the Progressive Democrats and four independents.

In the 1990s, a public inquiry was established to investigate corruption allegations related to the issuing of planning and zoning permits in Ireland. Ahern faced an investigation by the so-called Mahon Tribunal. Ahern’s involvement in the corruption scandal practically paralyzed the legislature earlier this year.

In May 2008, Ahern stepped down and Fianna Fáil lawmakers chose finance minister Brian Cowen to replace him as leader and prime minister. Several fellow party members had called for Ahern—who had served as head of government since June 1997—to resign in order to protect the party from the damages caused by the investigation.

Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the U.S. caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the United States economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.

Ireland’s economy is rapidly declining as unemployment soars, a budget deficit increases, and the government’s tax revenues plummet. The construction and export industries have also been negatively affected.

On Mar. 2, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said his party wants to take part in the economic debate, saying, "If the government, at any time, wants to talk to the Labour Party about proposals and solutions for solving the country’s economic problems, we are willing to engage constructively and positively with them. The difficulty we have is that the government has not talked to us. I have had discussions with the Taoiseach [prime minister] on a number of issues of national concern, such as Europe and the Lisbon Treaty, but he has never talked to me about the economy, other than across the floor of the Dáil [House of Representatives]."

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next general election?

Source: Red C / Sunday Business Post
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Irish adults, conducted from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.