Irish turn their backs on Brian Cowen

Support for Irish premier Brian Cowen's Fianna Fail party has slumped to a record low of 13 per cent, or less than a third of the 42 per cent it achieved at the 2007 general election.

The Red C survey published yesterday ahead of Tuesday's crucial budget sees his party in fourth place, overtaken by nationalists Sinn Fein.

Fianna Fail has seen its popularity slump after a burst property bubble brought the banking sector to its knees and stopped the "Celtic Tiger" economic miracle in its tracks.

The poll is the first since Ireland surrendered to an €85 billion (72bn) bailout from its European Union partners and the International Monetary Fund. But that package is contingent on Mr Cowen being able to steer an austere 2011 budget through parliament next week.

The parliamentary majority of his coalition of Fianna Fail, the Greens and independents is looking increasingly shaky and he may have to rely on abstentions by the main opposition Fine Gael to get the budget passed. All parties are aware an early election is almost certain early next year after the Greens said they planned to pull out of the coalition once the budget was passed.

The poll showed Fine Gael with 32 per cent support, up from 27 per cent at the last election, although the biggest beneficiary of government unpopularity was the Labour Party on 24 per cent, versus 10 per cent three years ago. The two parties are expected to form a coalition after any election.

Support for Sinn Fein stood at 16 per cent.