An opinion poll for the Sunday Times Irish edition puts Sinn Féin in second place in Iirish politics, making it the leading opposition party. Fianna Fáil’s 70-year dominance of Irish politics came to an end at last year’s February general election when both Fine Gael and Labour got their best ever results and formed the government. Now they have slipped well behind Sinn Féin which has the support of a quarter of the electorate. Sinn Féin has established its strong position on the basis of clear opposition to the austerity progamme of both the current Fine Gael/Labour coalition and its Fianna Fáil predecessor.
| Poll | Gen Elect |
Poll | Poll | Poll | Poll | Poll | |
| 12 Feb 11 | 25 Feb 11 | 24 Aug 11 | 2 Oct 11 | 11 Oct 11 | 12 Dec 11 | 20 Feb 12 | |
| Fianna Fáil |
15% | 17% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 20% | 16% |
| Fine Gael |
34% | 36% | 44% | 36% | 37% | 30% | 32% |
| Labour | 23% | 19% | 12% | 214% | 15% | 11% | 10% |
| Sinn Féin |
14% | 10% | 13% | 17% | 19% | 21% | 25% |
| Green Party |
2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Ind/ Others |
14% | 16% | 12% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% |
The poll was carried out among just over 900 voters nationwide between Wednesday 15 February and Monday 20 February. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3%. The above table excludes undecideds.
Sinn Féin are holding a public meeting in London tomorrow: ‘Economic crisis — lessons from Ireland’, Tues 28 February 8pm; Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, SW1A OAA. Speakers: Sinn Fein Vice President Mary Lou McDonald TD and Pat Doherty MP
