The Sunday Tribune/IMS Millward Brown survey shows the Fianna Fáil/PD coalition at 44%, a two point loss since the previous poll last October, while the combined Fine Gael/Labour /Green vote is at 39%, an increase of three points.

Today's poll has Fianna Fáil on 39%, down three points in three months despite a giveaway budget in December. Fine Gael at 22% is up two, Labour at 12% up two, the PDs at 5% up one, Greens at 5% down one, Sinn Féin at 7% down one and Independents/others 10% unchanged.

Fine Gael and Labour have, however, only regained half the support the parties lost in a Sunday Tribune nationwide survey commissioned during the Bertie Ahern payments controversy last autumn. At 22%, the Fine Gael vote remains one point below the 23% showing at the 2002 election, while Labour has only gained a single point to reach a 12% level in today's poll.

The results point to the probable re-election of the current Fianna Fáil-PD coalition for a third term in office when the general election takes place - most likely next May.

Fine Gael will be disappointed with the poll results.

The party is polling poorly in Dublin where, at 16%, it is in third place behind Fianna Fail (31%) and Labour (19%).

There is also bad news for Enda Kenny with his 39% satisfaction rating the lowest of the six main party leaders.

When asked who would make the better Taoiseach, 57% opted for Ahern and 25% for Kenny. Doubts about Kenny are evident among his own party supporters.

Only 69% of Fine Gael voters opted for Kenny whereas 90% of Fianna Fáil voters said Ahern would make a better Taoiseach. Overall, only 14% of poll respondents feel Kenny is the party leader who best understands the social and economic issues affecting modern Ireland.

Among the other party leaders, Michael McDowell's satisfaction rating has increased by seven points to 42%, Pat Rabbitte's rating is up two to 47% while Trevor Sargent is up two to 45%. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has seen his satisfaction rating increase by seven points to 52%, although his party's vote remains unchanged since 2002.