Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s mishandling of the timing of the General Election has seen support for Fine Gael drop, but support for Labour increase.

According to the latest Behaviour and Attitudes poll for the Sunday Times, conducted before the Budget, Fine Gael are down to 24pc, while Labour are up to 8pc.

Fianna Fail fall back under the 20pc to 19pc after a 1 point drop, while Sinn Fein are also on 19pc.

Tonight, as he arrived at the Fine Gael President Dinner in Dublin, Mr Kenny refused to be drawn on the latest opinion poll which shows a three point drop in support for Fine Gael.

Mr Kenny said he has "never commented on polls in all my years of leadership" and that the only poll he is interested in is on General Election day.

He said the election will be a question of "stability versus chaos", adding that the Fine Gael/Labour government has a plan to reduce unemployment to 6pc.

The Taoiseach was also asked whether former junior minister John Perry would be added to the ticket in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency. Mr Perry, now a backbench TD, was defeated at the convention.

But Mr Kenny refused to say if he will be added to the ticket at a later date.

"It was a very closely fought convention, Obviously Fine Gael reflect on all these things before we finalise all the tickets in the constituencies," Mr Kenny said.

Non- aligned Independents are unchanged at 12pc while the new left block of the Socialist Party, the Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit are on 7pc up 2.

Shane Ross’ Independent Alliance are polling at 5pc up 1, while Lucinda Creighton’s Renua Ireland are unchanged a 2pc.

The Green Party, the Social Democrats and the Workers Party are all on 1pc.

Breakdown of poll:

B&A/STimes (October 5-14, ±3.3%)

FG 24(-3)

FF 19(-1)

SF 19

Lab 8(+2)

Ind 12

SP+AAA+PBP 7(+2)

IndAll 5(+1)

Renua 2

Green 1(-1)

SD 1

WP 1(-1)

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