Polling could be a considerable influence on election results

Narrow margin in favour of alternative coalition

An alternative government made up of Fine Gael and Labour, with the possible support of the Greens, has pulled ahead of the current Government in terms of popular support, according to the Irish Times /TNS mrbi opinion poll.

Stephen Collins, Political Editor, reports in this article from the IT that their preferred poll, TNS MRBI, that the ‘electorate’ wants a rainbow coalition. Eh, excuse me? I’m sorry did I miss something? I don’t remember either the Greens, the Gael or Labour mentioning anything about this. Aye, and there’s the rub, lads and lassies. They didn’t. The IT, our paper of record, is publishing hypotheses about possible government coalitions. Is it the job of reporters to suggest alternatives to the current political paradigm based on the skewed results of a limited survey? Is it ethical.

Collins article dances a fine line between a presentation of their survey demographic and a misrepresentation of the truth. Take para 5, which actually gives the coalition a lead.

Asked which of two possible coalitions – Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, or Fine Gael, Labour and possibly the Greens – they would like to see forming the next government, 36 per cent opted for the Fine Gael-Labour-led alternative, while 35 per cent supported the current Coalition.

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