Updated 12.50

A Labour Minister says her party is fighting against "fantasy politics" on the doorsteps in the run-up to the local and European elections on Friday.

Joan Burton's comments come after two polls showed the party could be set to lose both of its European seats, and up to half of its local councillors.

The figures point to Sinn Féin, the Greens and the Independents as the big beneficiaries from Labour's slump.

Joan Burton says those parties are selling a "fantasy" to votes.

Earlier, another Labour minister played down poll fears. Pat Rabbitte told reporters he does not believe Labour will be "annihilated":

Irish Times poll

The Irish Times says Labour's two European seats are in real jeopardy, with Green and Independent candidates leading the challenge for the final seats in Dublin and the South.

500 voters were sampled in each constituency between Thursday and Saturday of last week.

Ireland South

The most striking finding of the Irish Times poll is that Grace O'Sullivan, Green Party, could be in contention to challenge Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune for the fourth seat in Ireland South.

Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley will win easily on 31%, while Sinn Féín's Liadh Ni Riada is on 19%. Fine Gael's Sean Kelly has just 13%, but appears set to do well on Mr Crowley's transfers.

That leaves the final seat between Deirdre Clune on 8 %, her Fine Gael colleague Simon Harris - also on 8%, and the Greens' Grace O'Sullivan on 7%.

But the poll says Deputy Harris will fail to pick up many transfers, with no Leinster candidates from the major parties - and so it is O'Sullivan who could be the biggest rival to Senator Clune.

Dublin seat

In Dublin, Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan and Fine Gael's Brian Hayes are on 23 and 22% - with the final seat still up for grabs,

Fianna Fáil's Mary Fitzpatrick has 12%, ahead of the Greens' Eamon Ryan on 10%, and Labour's Emer Costello on 9%.

The independent Nessa Childers has 8%, ahead of People Before Profit's Brid Smith on 7% and Paul Murphy of the Socialist Party on 6%.

Midlands North-West

Finally in Midlands North-West, Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness tops the poll on 18%, while Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy should also be elected with 15%.

Fianna Fáil's Pat the Cope Gallagher has 12%, tied with independent Luke Ming Flanagan - while another Independent, Marian Harkin, is on 10%.

Fine Gael's Jim Higgins has 9%, while Labour's Lorraine Higgins and Thomas Byrne of Fianna Fáil are on 8% each.

Irish Times Political Correspondent Harry McGee spoke to Newstalk's Pat Kenny about Sinn Féin's gains in his paper's latest poll: 

Analysis

Political Analyst Odran Flynn told Breakfast Fine Gael may have to thank a strong Fianna Fáil candidate if the party retains all four of its European seats:

Irish Sun findings

A second survey of 1,010 votes in The Irish Sun between last Monday and Wednesday puts Fine Gael at the top of the poll on 25%, with Labour lagging on just 8%. That's down three points from the last poll two weeks ago.

The Red C poll for the Irish Sun surveyed more than 1,000 voters between last Monday and Wednesday.

It shows support for Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin is now neck and neck on 20%, while Fine Gael remains unchanged on 25%.

Fianna Fáil’s dropped one point since the last Red C poll a fortnight ago, whereas Sinn Féin has gained two points since that same poll.

Political Editor with the Irish Sun, Deaglán De Bréadún told Newstalk's Breakfast Independents - on 24% - appear to be the big winners from this latest poll: