Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin says the next election won’t be a “straightforward fight” between his party and Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil .
He was speaking as a new poll showed Sinn Féin with record support in the Republic.
The Ipsos MRBI survey for The Irish Times has the party up three points to 35% support - well ahead of the two other largest parties, who are both on 20%.
It's just the latest in a series of opinion polls showing Sinn Féin as the country's most popular political party.
On The Pat Kenny Show, Deputy Ó Broin said he believes the latest numbers show the trends evident in the last general election are only growing.
He observed: “People are fed up with the same old two parties failing on a whole number of fronts.
“We don’t take anything for granted - it is only one poll. Things will change dramatically between now and whenever the next general election is. But there is clearly a trend, and that trend is for change.”
However, he said it won’t just be the three biggest parties featuring in the next election - or potentially the next government.
He observed: "This isn't going to be a straightforward fight between Sinn Féin and Fine Gael / Fianna Fáil as a virtually indistinct bloc.
“We are actively working with other political parties… to try to demonstrate that across the opposition, there is collaboration.
“On Tuesday, for example, Sinn Féin, the Soc Dems and other progressive political parties have co-signed a bill… to try to force the Government to start taking the homeless crisis seriously.
“Yes, Sinn Féin is in a good place - but we are also cooperating with others, and we want to lead that next government of change if the public entrusts us with that responsibility.”
Also speaking on the show, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said her own party isn’t ruling out anyone as potential future coalition partners.
She told Pat: “After a general election, we’ll consider what the numbers are and what’s possible in relation to forming a government.
“From our point of view, it’s not about being in government for the sake of being in government. If we can work with other parties, whoever they are, to deliver on social democratic policies… then we’ll talk to any other party.”
She doesn’t believe Sinn Féin’s popularity will squeeze out other, smaller parties such as her own.
She said: “I think there’s still a demand for a different voice and a different type of politics. It’s not all about Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.”
