An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the launch of Feile An Phobail in Belfast.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the launch of Feile An Phobail in Belfast.

SATISFACTION WITH THE government has jumped by five percentage points since the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, according a new opinion poll.

The Behaviour & Attitudes poll published in today’s Sunday Times puts satisfaction with the government at 46%, up five points since the last poll published on 20 May.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has the highest satisfaction rating among the main party leaders at 55%, Mary Lou McDonald is next on 52% followed by Micheál Martin at 49% and Brendan Howlin at 43%.

The poll also showed that Fine Gael remains the most popular party among voters with the support level of 31%.

The previous poll in this series had put support for Sinn Féin above Fianna Fáil but both parties are now level, according to today’s poll.

The levels of support were as follows:

Fine Gael 31% (+1)

Fianna Fáil 24% (+1)

Sinn Féin 24% (=)

Labour 4% (=)

Others 9% (-1)

Green 2% (=)

Sol/Pbp 2% (=)

Social Democrats 1% (=)

Independent Alliance 3% (=)

#Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now

The prospect of a potential summer election receded yesterday after Sinn Féin said it would not be tabling a motion of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

Such a motion would put strain on the confidence and supply agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil which is underpinning Varadkar’s minority government.