Fine Gael Ministers have claimed a fall in support in the latest opinion poll will provide the party a spur for a final week fightback ahead of the general election.
The poll came as Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned of a flight of jobs and capital in the event of political instability after ballots are cast on February 26th.
The Red C poll for the Irish Sun put Fine Gael on 26 per cent, down two; Fianna Fáil on 19 per cent, up one; Sinn Féin on 17 per cent, down three; Labour on 9 per cent, up one and Independents and others on 29 per cent, up four.
If the numbers are reflected on polling day, the formation of a government would be extremely difficult, with the Fine Gael-Labour coalition a long way from being returned.
The poll has caused shockwaves within Fine Gael.
"Very bad result for Ireland if we end up with a Dáil of that sort of composition," said one Minister. "Economic instability follows political instability as sure as night follows day.
“Now for the bounce back. No way we’ll allow these people take over our country. Too many people have made too many sacrifices to get us to this point.”
There were also grumbles within the part that some "heavy hitters" such as Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney were not pulling their weight, although this was denied both others close to the Ministers.
Mr Kenny said “there are consequences” to some alternative governments and suggested Sinn Féin would hugely increase income taxes.
‘Track record’
The Taoiseach, speaking at the online payments company PayPal in
Dundalk
, said Fine Gael has a “track record” on the economy and unemployment has dropped from more than 15 per cent when the party took office in 2011 to 8.6 per cent now.
"I do not want to see the flight from this country of either capital or jobs or lack of investment coming in here. And what you see is difficulties in other countries. Greece is back in recession, Spain hasn't been able to form a government and there are rising interest rates in Portugal, " he said.
