Sinn Fein is set to assign the Gerry Adams arrest storm to the waste bin and dominate the European and local elections in Ireland next week.
A new opinion poll for the Sunday Times indicates that Adams will lead Sinn Fein to three seats in Europe and their first in the Dublin constituency.
The poll also says the party will more than double its number of seats in the 31 city and county council elections that will be held in conjunction with the European polls.
The latest analysis is a major victory for Adams just weeks after he was arrested and held for almost a week in conjunction with the inquiry into the murder of mum of 10 Jean McConville.
The Sunday Times reports that Dublin voters are turning to Sinn Fein and independents with the Coalition partners in Labor the big losers.
The paper describes it as an angry mid-term strike at the government with three out of five voters in the capital planning to support anti-government candidates on the left.
With Independents set to break through in greater numbers. Fianna Fail is not likely to make gains while Fine Gael is also facing significant local losses.
Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan is set to win a seat in Dublin and top the poll on 19 per cent, ahead of Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes on 16 per cent.
The report says five candidates led by Fianna Fail’s Mary Fitzpatrick are in contention for the last seat.
Emer Costello remains Labor’s only hope for a European seat and is currently on 7 per cent in Dublin behind Fitzpatrick on 12 per cent, Éamon Ryan of the Greens on 11 per cent, independent MEP Nessa Childers on 11 per cent, Bríd Smith of People Before Profit on 10 per cent and Socialist MEP Paul Murphy on 9 per cent.
Liadh Ní Riada is set to take a second seat for Sinn Fein in the South constituency and is current third-placed in the polls with 14 per cent support.
Matt Carthy is the Sinn Fein candidate under most pressure as he fights against a vote-management strategy by Fianna Fail in Midlands North West.
The Behaviour and Attitude poll has sitting MEP Mairéad McGuinness of Fine Gael topping the poll on 21 per cent in the four-seat constituency.
Independent deputy and pro-cannabis lobbyist Luke Ming Flanagan is certain to win a seat with Carthy third in line and independent Marian Harkin on 14 per cent.
Fianna Fail candidates Thomas Byrne and Pat The Cope Gallagher are both on 9 per cent with Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins on 7 per cent and Labour’s Lorraine Higgins on 5%.
Ian McShane, managing director of B&A said: “On these figures, the likely end result would be seats for McGuinness, Flanagan, Carthy and Harkin, with no seat for Fianna Fail.
“If, however, Fianna Fail can improve upon its transfer strategy over the next week, Gallagher could take the third seat, leaving Harkin and Carthy in a battle for the last one.”
The Sunday Times adds that Fine Gael is on course to win four seats in Europe - two in the South - but is set for significant losses in the local elections where support stands at just 25 per cent.
 
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1412165.ece
 

Sinn Fein is set to assign the Gerry Adams arrest storm to the waste bin and dominate the European and local elections in Ireland next week.

A new opinion poll for the Sunday Times indicates that Adams will lead Sinn Fein to three seats in Europe and their first in the Dublin constituency.

The poll also says the party will more than double its number of seats in the 31 city and county council elections that will be held in conjunction with the European polls.

The latest analysis is a major victory for Adams just weeks after he was arrested and held for almost a week in conjunction with the inquiry into the murder of mum of 10 Jean McConville.

The Sunday Times reports that Dublin voters are turning to Sinn Fein and independents with the Coalition partners in Labor the big losers.

The paper describes it as an angry mid-term strike at the government with three out of five voters in the capital planning to support anti-government candidates on the left.

With Independents set to break through in greater numbers. Fianna Fail is not likely to make gains while Fine Gael is also facing significant local losses.

Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan is set to win a seat in Dublin and top the poll on 19 per cent, ahead of Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes on 16 per cent.

The report says five candidates led by Fianna Fail’s Mary Fitzpatrick are in contention for the last seat.

Emer Costello remains Labor’s only hope for a European seat and is currently on 7 per cent in Dublin behind Fitzpatrick on 12 per cent, Éamon Ryan of the Greens on 11 per cent, independent MEP Nessa Childers on 11 per cent, Bríd Smith of People Before Profit on 10 per cent and Socialist MEP Paul Murphy on 9 per cent.

Liadh Ní Riada is set to take a second seat for Sinn Fein in the South constituency and is current third-placed in the polls with 14 per cent support.

Matt Carthy is the Sinn Fein candidate under most pressure as he fights against a vote-management strategy by Fianna Fail in Midlands North West.

The Behaviour and Attitude poll has sitting MEP Mairéad McGuinness of Fine Gael topping the poll on 21 per cent in the four-seat constituency.

Independent deputy and pro-cannabis lobbyist Luke Ming Flanagan is certain to win a seat with Carthy third in line and independent Marian Harkin on 14 per cent.

Fianna Fail candidates Thomas Byrne and Pat The Cope Gallagher are both on 9 per cent with Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins on 7 per cent and Labour’s Lorraine Higgins on 5%.

Ian McShane, managing director of B&A said: “On these figures, the likely end result would be seats for McGuinness, Flanagan, Carthy and Harkin, with no seat for Fianna Fail.

“If, however, Fianna Fail can improve upon its transfer strategy over the next week, Gallagher could take the third seat, leaving Harkin and Carthy in a battle for the last one.”

The Sunday Times adds that Fine Gael is on course to win four seats in Europe - two in the South - but is set for significant losses in the local elections where support stands at just 25 per cent.