Fine Gael most popular party in the country - poll

Fine Gael has emerged as the most popular party in Ireland, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll. The party holds 20% support, just one point ahead of Sinn Féin, which has fallen to 19%. Fianna Fáil is in third place with 17% support, showing a narrow margin between the top three parties.

The poll, conducted on July 3rd with a sample size of 1,279 people and a margin of error of +/-2.8%, also revealed shifts in support for other parties. The Social Democrats remain unchanged at 12%, while Independent Ireland has dropped two points to 7%. Aontú holds steady at 6%, Labour and the Green Party are both at 3%, and People Before Profit-Solidarity is at 2%. Support for Independents has risen by one point to 11%.

Regarding individual leaders, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns continues to be the most popular, although her personal support has seen a one-point decrease to 40% compared to the previous month. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris maintain their personal support levels at 35% and 33% respectively. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald's approval rating has dipped one point to 30%, and Labour leader Ivana Bacik's personal support has fallen two points to 28%.

Separately, the poll identified Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan as the favored next leader of Fianna Fáil among survey participants, with 52% support. He is followed by Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary at 17% and current deputy leader Jack Chambers at 16%.