General Election is set to be a cliffhanger, new poll suggests

THE gap between Fianna Fàil and Fine Gael is just two points while support for Sinn Fèin is on the rise.

That's according to an Irish Times Ipsos/MRBI poll, the findings of which have been released tonight. 

It means the lead held by Fianna Fàil is much narrower than the 12-point margin indicated in the Sunday Times poll at the weekend.

With 18 days left in the campaign, the poll points to an election cliffhanger.

It also suggests that either Fianna Fàil or Fine Gael will have to give serious consideration to forming a coalition with Sinn Fèin in order to form a government, a prospect to which both parties claim they are opposed.

The state of the parties is as follows: Fianna Fáil is on 25% no change since the last poll, Fine Gael is on 23% down 6, Sinn Féin is on 21% up 7, Labour is on 5% down 1, the Green Party is on 8% no change and Independents and Others are on 18% no change.

The poll reveals that satisfaction with the government led by Leo Varadkar has slumped significantly since October. 

Satisfaction with the leader of Fianna Fáil, Michèal Martin, has dropped five points from 38% to 33%.

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald is also the only party leader to see her own personal satisfaction rating improve on the last poll.

The satisfaction rating for the government now stands at 27%, down from 42%.