Poll shows transfers may scupper SF in Euro elections
A new opinion poll shows fights for several seats in the European elections.
The RED C survey conducted between April 28 and May 1 for the Sunday Business Post shows Sinn Féin can challenge for a seat in each of the three constituencies, but transfers will be a problem for them.
Labour's Phil Prendgergast is polling better after she called for party leader Eamon Gilmore to be replaced.
In Dublin, Fine Gael's Brian Hayes tops the poll on 18%, followed by Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan on 15%, Labour's Emer Costello and Fianna Fáil's Mary Fitzpatrick on 13%, the Green Party's Eamon Ryan on 12% and Independent Nessa Childers on 10%, with others trailing.
Childers is the most transfer-friendly putting her in line for one of the last two seats after Hayes along with Boylan, Costello, Fitzpatrick and Ryan.
In the South constituency Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley cannot be beaten, according to the poll, as he lead the pack on 28%.
He is followed by Fine Gael's Seán Kelly on 18%, Liadh Ni RIADA of Sinn féin on 14%, Labour's Phil Prendergast, Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune on 9% and Clune's party collegaue Simon Harris on 8%, with others trailing.
Crowley continues to pick up transfers, with Kelly and Clune doing really well putting Fine Gael in with a chance of two seats, with Labour's Prendergast doing well too, but Ni Riada is struggling to pick up second preferences.
In Midlands North West, women do best with Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness and Independent Marian Harkin topping the poll on 16% each, followed by Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy and Independent Luke Ming Flanagan on 14% each, and Fine Gael's Jim Higgins on 10% - all other candidates are in single figures.
McGuinness, Harkin and Flanagan are all strong on second preferences meaning they should take seats, with the fourth a dog fight between sitting MEP's Higgins, Pat the Cope Gallagher of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin's Carthy.
