Both Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have taken a hit in their rankings, after the potential appointment of Nama chief Brendan McDonagh as the Government’s ‘housing tsar’ fell through after it was disclosed he would retain his salary in the region of €430,000.
Fianna Fáil is down two points at 23pc and the Taoiseach’s own personal ranking is down three points to 46pc.
Fianna Fáil remains the most popular party, and the Taoiseach remains the country’s most popular leader, followed by Simon Harris, down three points to a 40pc rating, the same held and remaining unchanged by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.
The popularity of Mary Lou McDonald is up two points to 36pc, while Labour leader Ivana Bacik is up two points to 37 pc.
Nearly a third of respondents (27pc) believe Donohoe should be the leader of Fine Gael, while 25pc believe Tánaiste Simon Harris should stay on as leader of the party.
Despite being mooted as the most likely successor to Simon Harris, only 7pc want Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to be party leader.
Just 5pc want Education Minister Helen McEntee to be party leader, while 8pc don’t know and most respondents (29pc) don’t know or have no interest in who they want to be Fine Gael leader.
Housing remains the biggest issue in a week where the Cabinet was torn over the appointment of Mr McDonagh as the head of the new Housing Activation Office.
Housing Minister James Browne was unsuccessful in getting the appointment through Government after he was met with resistance from Fine Gael, who were unhappy with the floating of the NAMA boss’ name in the media before it was considered by Government.
Housing has climbed by 12 points in being the biggest issue for voters from 50pc up to 62pc.
Immigration is the second biggest issue at 28pc, up five points.
A quarter of the population believe the cost of living is the third biggest issue, down by two points.
Some 34pc of respondents said they are most likely to vote for Mairead McGuinness to be President if they had to vote for a Fine Gael candidate.
Ms McGuinness also tops the list of right-leaning candidates and is followed by Senator Michael McDowell, who has gone up since the last poll by three points to 19pc.
Meanwhile, Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the respondents’ favoured left-leaning Presidential candidate, with 14pc of support, down two points from the previous poll.
She is followed by Frances Black, who is down one point and is at 10pc.
See the Sunday Independent this weekend for the full results
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