The latest opinion poll shows another drop in combined support for the outgoing government parties.

Fine Gael is down 2 points to 28% - while Labour are unchanged at 8%.

The Red C poll in the Sunday Business Post shows Sinn Fein support up 3 points to 20%, while Fianna Fáil stayed the same on 18%.

The poll of 1,000 adults was carried out between Monday and Thursday of this week.

Political columnist with the Irish Examiner Gerard Howlin says the current government is five points off where it needs to be, to return to power: