TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has insisted that being in power is not about “short-term popularity” as a new poll showed almost three-quarters of people are unhappy with the Government.

The results of the [Sunday independent/Millward Brown] opinion poll show that the Anglo debt deal and the more recent agreement to extend the repayment of our bailout loans has had little impact on the ratings of the coalition parties.

Around 74pc of voters say they are dissatisfied with the Government, with only 20pc satisfied and 7pc in the “don’t know” category.

The Government’s ratings have slipped dramatically since the Budget, which included the property tax and the €10 cut to child benefit. But Mr Kenny insisted he had no interest in opinion polls.

Well, that’s handy.

Kenny plays down poll as he focuses on ‘hard decisions’ (Michael Brennan, Fionnan Sheahan, Independent.ie)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)