The Sunday Independent's View: Voters are fed up, but are they fed up enough to swing left?

"At 64pc, the number of people who disapprove of how the current Government is doing its job has certainly gone up again, while satisfaction ratings for the humiliated leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have both fallen sharply. Three-quarters think there was too little help given to ease the cost of living in the budget, and 82pc don't have faith in the coalition's handling of immigration. The winds should be blowing fair for any credible alternative government."

"Instead, parties on the left are still strikingly failing to capitalise fully on voter dissatisfaction. Sinn Féin has gone up by two points, and Labour and the Social Democrats by one point a piece, but it's a relatively modest swing given the celebrations last weekend. There remains only the narrowest of gaps between those who, if forced to choose, would prefer a government fronted by FF and FG, and those who would back a broad left-leaning alliance led by Sinn Féin."

"Supporters of that longed-for left unity will no doubt argue that it is early days yet, and that there is plenty of time to work out how to bring together in common cause the diverse forces which sent Catherine Connolly into the Áras. Conferences are planned. Conversations are being had. Serious consideration must be given to maximising the vote transfers needed to pick up those crucial final seats."

Poll results show 64% disapproval of the government's performance and sharp falls in satisfaction for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil leaders. Three-quarters say the budget provided too little help with the cost of living, and 82% lack faith in the coalition's handling of immigration. Sinn Féin rose two points while Labour and the Social Democrats gained one point each, representing only modest swings. The gap between preference for an FF-FG fronted government and a broad left alliance led by Sinn Féin remains narrow. Organising conferences, coordinating vote transfers and the Galway West by-election will test left parties' ability to convert disaffection into seats amid pervasive voter caution.

Read at Irish Independent