Fine Gael has seen its support fall following the controversy over its Wexford by-election candidate Verona Murphy, in the latest Business Post/Red C poll.

During her Wexford by-election campaign, Murphy has had to apologise twice for comments she made linking asylum seekers to Isis.

Fine Gael’s support level is down by two points to 30 per cent, but it retains a strong lead over Fianna Fáil, which is unchanged on 24 per cent.

It comes at a time when all parties and Independents are gearing up for the four by-elections being held on Friday and the forthcoming general election next year.

Support for current Independent TDs has dropped by one point to 12 per cent.

Sinn Féin has made no gains from the publicity around its recent Ard Fheis in Derry. It is unchanged on 11 per cent, which is below the 13.8 per cent vote share in got in the 2016 general election.

The Greens are unchanged on seven per cent. Labour, which recently had its national conference in Mullingar in Westmeath, is up by two points to its usual level of six per cent. The Independent Alliance, unchanged in this poll on four per cent, and the Social Democrats are on two per cent. Solidarity-People Before Profit is up by one point to two per cent, while Peadar Toibín’s Aontú party is unchanged on one per cent.

The Red C poll was taken between last Thursday November 14 and Thursday November 21.

Full analysis of the Red C poll by Business Post political editor Michael Brennan and Red C research chief executive Richard Colwell will be in the Business Post tomorrow.

Plus there will be an exclusive Red C poll on the willingness of the public to pay a household broadcasting charge to help reduce RTE’s financial problems.