Sunday 26th SBP RedC Poll - FF 26% (-10) FG 33% (+5)

[toxic avenger]

Just 23% of those polled said they were confident the Government can manage the public finances out of the current downturn, a fall of 19 points since last month, while 59% said they were not confident and 21% said they did not know.

RTÉ News: Poll shows 10 point drop for Fianna Fáil

[peadarmc]

well Edo i am genuinely very sorry to hear about the job situation, hope that doesnt happen! to be honest, while i agree, we havent heard feck all from the opposition, and while the rest of the opposition may not be the greatest, with regard to the economy, surely richard bruton is the best candidate in Dail Eireann??

[borntorum]

From a purely cynical political point of view - yes let FF stew in their own juices - from a personal point of view looking at the state of economy and projecting into the future - I will lose my job next week along with 100 of my colleagues - we are just waiting for a creditor to pull the trigger and call in a liquidator - there are hundreds of small companies in the same situation - the revenue's take is falling off a cliff - If we can't take this little bit of harsh medicine , as badly handled as it was - then I truly despair as to far we will have to fall before reality dawns on us all that the we are back , quite literally to 1981, and the last 25 years progress might not aswell happened. Im seriously concerned about this.

As am I. I'm trying to start my career, I have literally no money, and I find it very hard to listen to extremely comfortably-off sectors of society demand that they get to keep all their 'entitlements' and to hell with everyone else. This downturn/recession is going to hurt everyone, but it is surely fair that those who made the most out of the boom times should suffer the majority of the pain now. It's depressing to see the hacks on here respond in purely selfish party-political mode, but not surprising. As you say, I think it's going to take a long time for reality to impose itself on the public, and the political class.

[kerrynorth]

There was a Munster final back in the late 80s in Cork where Cork were hammering Kerry and the Kerry supporters started to leave before the final whistle (to beat the traffic, naturally) and a cry went up from Cork crowd "lock the gates, make the f$*kers watch, make dem watch." I can't help despite my belief that FG would make a better core to a alternative government feel that FF need to left in office a while more to take the consequences of their actions and inactions over the last period in government.

FG need this government to hang together for at least the next 2 years. Luckily for FG FF also need to stay on government or face the slaughter. The Greens though I suspect will not be able to stomach the 2010 budget. I expect the government will fall by December 09.

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

There was a Munster final back in the late 80s in Cork where Cork were hammering Kerry and the Kerry supporters started to leave before the final whistle (to beat the traffic, naturally) and a cry went up from Cork crowd "lock the gates, make the f$*kers watch, make dem watch." I can't help despite my belief that FG would make a better core to a alternative government feel that FF need to left in office a while more to take the consequences of their actions and inactions over the last period in government.

Good point. It would also give more time to FG to prove themselves to more people and build up the party's support.

[lowtaxireland]

I see the figures for the parties, but where is the figure for those who hate the sight of all of them and think that voting makes no sense?

[Kiss]

I have yet to see anything from the opposition parties (Im a member of FG) that really really says that they would or could do anything different.

Do you go to meetings or read the press releases?

[wombat]

Im seriously concerned about this.

So am I and I'm sorry to hear about your job, I have work until Christmas but 2009 is unknown. I voted in the 81 elections but was in Canada for 82 & 87. By the time I returned for the 92 election, my sister & family had left for Australia. The fat cats who got us into the mess spent the 80's with their snouts in the public trough. We need to make sure that this crowd are put out & stakes driven through their hearts - by that I mean a cap on the price of building land so that the corruption associated with the house building scam is destroyed forever.

[peadarmc]

borntorun...."As am I. I'm trying to start my career, I have literally no money, and I find it very hard to listen to extremely comfortably-off sectors of society demand that they get to keep all their 'entitlements' and to hell with everyone else. This downturn/recession is going to hurt everyone, but it is surely fair that those who made the most out of the boom times should suffer the majority of the pain now. It's depressing to see the hacks on here respond is purely selfish party-political mode, but not surprising. As you say, I think it's going to take a long time for reality to impose itself on the public, and the political class."

i hope thats not directed at me? i assure you i am the furthest away from what you call the well off sector! i am commenting on this thread in this way as this thread is party political since its a party opinion poll! i would in no way detract from the genuine pain and suffering that are being experienced by a lot of my countrymen and i in no way attempt to divert attention from that very real human reality in order to make or score political points!

just a clarification!

[wombat]

I see the figures for the parties, but where is the figure for those who hate the sight of all of them and think that voting makes no sense?

Its the blank piece at the end of the page - as irrelevant as those who don't vote.