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Simon Harris leadership gives Fine Gael a poll bounce – but public doubts he is right man for the job

Voters would prefer Paschal Donohoe or Simon CoveneyMost underwhelmed by change at the topBig increase in those wanting election now

Ireland thinks poll: Fine Gael receives small bounce from Simon Harris

Jody Corcoran and Kevin Cunningham

Fine Gael has received a marginal uplift in support ahead of the election of Simon Harris as leader, but the wider public would have preferred Simon Coveney or Paschal Donohoe as Taoiseach, a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll shows.

With Mr Harris elevated to the party leadership today, the poll, conducted on Friday and yesterday, found Fine Gael is up two points (at 22pc), but nationally, only 16pc of respondents wanted the higher education minister to succeed Leo Varadkar as leader of the country.