THERE is more bad news for Taoiseach Brian Cowen in a new opinion poll today showing support for Fianna Fáil slumping a further six percentage points to just 18%.

A similar performance in a general election would see the main government party struggle to win 30 seats, meaning dozens of its current TDs would lose out.

The Sunday Business Post/Red C poll shows a slight increase in support for Fine Gael which remains the biggest party at 32% (up 1).

But Labour has again increased its support level rising four points to 27%. The perception within Leinster House in recent days was that Labour had endured a difficult couple of weeks. A newspaper interview given by leader Eamon Gilmore, where he ruled out a series of tax increases and spending cuts, was perceived as lacking in credibility.

However, this has manifestly not impacted on Labour's support levels with the party comfortably overtaking Fianna Fáil and closing to within five points of Fine Gael.

There was no major lift for the Green Party from its role in bringing about talks on an economic consensus – it rose just one point to 4%. Sinn Féin stayed reasonably steady on 9% (down 1) with Independents at 10%.

The poll result is certain to renew focus on Brian Cowen's leadership of Fianna Fáil although there will be no challenge ahead of December's budget. It had been hoped within Fianna Fáil that the fall in the party's support had bottom out at around 24-25%.

The reasonably strong performance of Fine Gael strengthens the position of leader Enda Kenny.