Sinn Fein has continued to surge in the polls in the Republic, gaining two points on top of last month’s three point rise to reach 21%, its highest level in more than a year in the Behaviour & Attitudes survey for The Sunday Times.

Mary Lou McDonald’s satisfaction rating as Sinn Fein president has leapt by five points to draw level with Fianna Fail’s Micheál Martin on 51%, bringing her within two points of Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar on 53%.

As the taoiseach registered the first dip in his personal satisfaction rating this year, down six points, and Martin fell four points, the so-called “Mary Lou bounce” saw Sinn Fein’s support grow six points in Dublin and among women voters (up five points to