SUPPORT for Sinn Féin in the Republic has dropped by five points, according to the latest opinion poll.
The results from The Sunday Business Post's Red C poll reveal a five point drop in popularity for the all-island party.
The influential poll places support for Sinn Féin at 13 per cent, well behind both Fine Gael, whose support remains unchanged at 31 per cent and Fianna Fail, who moved up one point over the month to 25 per cent.
Support for the Independents and Labour is unchanged at 15 per cent and five per cent respectively, while the Social Democrats, the Independent Alliance and the Green Party all sit on three per cent.
Solidarity People Before Profit claimed 2 per cent of the vote in March, while support for Renua as well as Peadar Tóibín's new party Aontú is reported as less than 1 per cent.
The fall in backing for Sinn Féin is a dramatic swing in fortunes for the party after the February poll revealed that support had risen to its highest level in two years (18 per cent).
The slump also comes a fortnight after Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald was heavily criticised for posing with a St Patrick’s Day parade banner reading ‘England get out of Ireland’.
Ms McDonald was photographed with the banner during a St Patrick’s Day parade in New York, with Tánaiste Simon Coveney describing her behaviour as “offensive, divisive and an embarrassment”.
The DUP, SDLP, Ulster Unionists, Alliance and the Green Party also criticised Ms McDonald over the banner.
At the time Sinn Féin dismissed the criticism as “faux outrage” and “political point-scoring”.
"The most divisive and offensive act on this island for almost the last 100 years has been the partition of Ireland," they said.
“It should come as no surprise that Sinn Féin wants a new united Ireland under the provisions of Good Friday Agreement.
“However if Simon Coveney and the government is serious about achieving a new and agreed united Ireland then he should immediately convene an all-Ireland forum on Irish unity," a party statement read.
The Red C telephone poll of 1,000 adults was carried out between March 21 and March 28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.
