#320 Election 2024 , Real Change Or More Of The Same?

The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

On today’s show, Niall spoke with several candidates running in the upcoming election.

According to The Irish Times, support for Fine Gael has plummeted just days before the general election. The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll reveals that Fine Gael’s share of the vote has dropped by six points in less than two weeks, following a campaign marked by missteps. The party now trails both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

As the final days of the campaign unfold, and with tomorrow night’s three-way televised leaders' debate, the three largest parties are neck-and-neck, separated by just two percentage points. Based on the latest figures—excluding undecided voters—Fianna Fáil stands at 21% (up two points), Sinn Féin at 20% (up one), and Fine Gael at 19% (down six).

Among smaller parties, the Green Party has reached 4% (up one), Labour is at 4% (down one), the Social Democrats at 6% (up two), People Before Profit at 3% (up one), and Aontú remains steady at 3%. Independents, including Independent Ireland, are at 17% (down three points). Notably, undecided voters have risen to 19% (up three points).

The top issues influencing voters include the cost of living (31%), housing prices (18%), and health (16%). Other key concerns include the economy (7%), immigration (7%), renting costs (6%), climate (5%), law and order (5%), and taxation (3%).

We also want to give voice to independent and smaller party candidates, who often don’t receive adequate coverage in mainstream media. If you’re running for election or supporting a candidate, let us know! We’ll do our best to feature you today or Wednesday. This invitation extends to candidates from all parties, including the main ones.

With the election set for Friday, here’s the big question: Do you believe there’s potential for real change, or are we looking at another five years of the status quo?