A new opinion poll shows Fianna Fail's opened up a 12 point lead on Fine Gael.
The Sunday Times poll of 923 people between January 2nd and 14th, is a timely boost for Micheál Martin, but disastrous for the Taoiseach.
It puts Fianna Fail on 32 percent, up 5 - with Fine Gael on 20 percent, down 7 - and Sinn Fein just a point behind on 19 percent.
The last Sunday Times/Behaviour and Attitudes poll a month ago had both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail neck and neck on 27 percent.
This latest survey puts support for the Greens up a point to 7 percent while Labour is down 2 to 4 percent.
Elsewhere Solidarity/People Before Profit drop 1 to 2 percent, Renua is up 1 to 1 percent and the Social Democrats are unchanged at one percent.
