The latest monthly Snapshot poll by Ipsos for The Irish Times shows that immigration is once more the top issue cited by voters – and they have an “overwhelmingly negative view of the Government’s performance on the issue”.
The poll found that some 81% of the comments in relation to the government’s handling of immigration were negative, when more than 1,000 respondents were asked: “What have you come across in what the Government has said or done recently that has made you think the country is going in the right or wrong direction?”
Housing emerged as the next most cited issue – being referenced by 21 per cent of respondents, an increase of two points since last month – while immigration was cited most – by 26% of voters, a decline of three points on the last Snapshot poll.
The Irish Times said that the issues of immigration and housing “dwarf any other issues that people notice about the Government” – with the Palestinian/Israel conflict coming in next at 7 per cent and healthcare at 4 per cent. Climate change was cited by just 3 per cent of voters, with crime coming in at 2 per cent.
Their analysis showed that immigration issue was cited more often by voters outside Dublin, while housing was the top issue for Dublin voters. 82% of comments made about the government’s handling of housing were negative.
The data was collected using Omnipoll, Ipsos’s telephone omnibus survey which interviews a fresh, nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 15-plus every two weeks. The sample used includes both mobile and landline phone numbers.
The election on June 7th showed a surge to Independents in both the local and European elections, with a significant number of prominent opponents of the current immigration policy gaining seats or retaining them having left a government party.