A new opinion poll has moved the country a step closer to a general election.
The latest Red C poll for the Sunday Business Post shows Fianna Fáil has plunged four points to 24% while Fine Gael has climbed three points to 32%.
However, the news is not so good for Sinn Féin which is down one to 11% - and Labour who have also dropped two points to 4%.
Meanwhile the Independent Alliance is up one to 4%, Solidarity-PBP is static at 1%, the Social Democrats are up one to 2%, and The Green Party sees no change at 7%.
Aontú is is up one to 1% and Renua is at <1 from zero.
POLL RESULTS: Fine Gael 32% (+3) Fianna Fáil 24% (-4) Independents 13% (=) Sinn Fein 11% (-1) Green Party 7% (=) Labour 4% (-2) SocDems 2% (+1) Solidarity-PBP 1% (=) Aontu 1 (+1) Renua 0 @sundaybusiness @REDCResearch
— Michael Brennan (@obraonain) October 26, 2019
The paper suggests the fallout from the absentee voting scandal has hurt Fianna Fáil.
While it says some of the increase for Fine Gael can also be attributed to a 'Brexit bounce' - with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Simon Coveney and European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee being a media staple during the negotiations with the UK.
The poll also found that a majority of people do not want a general election here if there is a Brexit deal in the next fortnight.
Some 50% of people disagree, 43% would want an election and 7% are unsure.
Red C interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults by phone between Thursday October 17th and the 24th.
