J.6624-Sunday-Times-June-2015-Report

Sunday Times/Behaviour & Attitudes Opinion Poll SeriesBackgroundMeanwhile, media commentary throughout the fieldwork period was heavily flavoured withcoverage of the acute possibility of a Greek Euro exit, and the potentially disastrous effectthis could have on an open economy like Ireland’s.All of the above dynamics would suggest an electorate which is increasingly weary of waitingfor the benefits of the economic recovery to reach themselves and their families, at a timewhen all the indications are that we are facing into a further period of global economicuncertainty.Fine Gael and Labour might, of course, have expected an electoral bounce following thepassing of the marriage equality referendum by a significant margin.In reality, both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin managed to garner their share of the limelight inthe hours and days following the referendum result, perhaps best exemplified by the imagesof Micheál Martin and Gerry Adams broadcast nationwide from Dublin Castle as the resultsrolled in.Indeed, the last few weeks have generally been good ones for Fianna Fáil in general. Apartfrom benefitting, at least in part, from the post-referendum feel-good factor, the party was ofcourse successful in the Carlow Kilkenny by-election held on the same day.16