Irish support for EU membership falls to lowest level in a decade
Support for Ireland remaining a member of the European Union remains high but has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to a survey.
Some 82 per cent of people questioned as part of an annual poll, commissioned by civil society organisation European Movement Ireland, said the Republic should remain in the EU.
This is the lowest level of support recorded since the polling series began in 2013. Fewer than half of the respondents said they felt the EU was heading in the right direction.
The survey, conducted by Amárach Research and published on Thursday, involved a representative sample of 1,200 people. It was carried out via email between March 26th and 28th.
READ MORE
Pro-EU sentiment in Ireland hit a high point in 2019 at the height of the post-Brexit negotiations, when 93 per cent of people backed continued membership. This was largely attributed to how the European political system rowed in behind the State while the terms of the UK's exit from the union were thrashed out.
There has been a small but steady decline in support since, but the Irish public still consistently ranks among the most supportive of EU membership. A separate EU-wide survey carried out late last year found Irish people were the most optimistic about the future of the 27-state union.
Immigration control was cited in the latest poll as the single biggest reason why people felt the EU was going in the wrong direction.
Anti-immigration campaigners frequently target recent EU asylum policy reforms in online criticism. The Migration and Asylum Pact, due to come into effect next year, will mean faster decisions on asylum applications, but has been opposed by far-right parties as not going far enough on the issue.
Half of those surveyed want Ireland to be more involved in defence co-operation at EU level, while about one-third feel the opposite.
Some 56 per cent of respondents said they were in favour of more countries joining the union.
Noelle O Connell, head of European Movement Ireland, said the level of support for the EU in this State was still 'incredibly high'.
The research showed Irish people valued being part of the large economic bloc, particularly given the uncertainty caused by recent moves regarding tariffs by US president Donald Trump, she said.
Ms O Connell said Ireland needed to be mindful of repaying the solidarity it received during the Brexit crisis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
41 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Harris praises Madleen volunteers for highlighting ‘urgent need for humanitarian aid' to reach Gaza
The international group of volunteers detained by Israel onboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) vessel the Madleen have been praised by Tánaiste Simon Harris for highlighting 'the urgent need for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza '. 'It should not fall to any small group of civilians to get aid into Gaza,' the Tánaiste said on Monday as the Madleen and its 12-strong crew were being brought to the port of Ashdod. 'The question we should be asking today is not a debate about the merits or not of the flotilla, but how it has come to this; that the world is turning a blind eye to starving children in Gaza . 'Ireland has consistently called on Israel to lift its blockade and allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza, in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles. READ MORE 'The UN and humanitarian organisations must be allowed to work independently and do their job.' The activists aboard the Madleen, which was boarded by Israeli authorities in the early hours of Monday morning, were said by supporters, a number of whom are Irish, to have been unharmed in the operation. They said the vessel and crew, who had been attempting to reach Gaza, were expected on Monday in Ashdod where lawyers working for Israel-based, Palestinian-run legal NGO Adaleh hoped to be able to meet them. The crew includes, among others, French, Spanish, Dutch and Swedish nationals; the embassies of those countries are reported to have confirmed the individuals involved are safe and well. Among the activists detained were climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament. The risks of this journey were something we spoke about and analysed for months while we planned it, but the risk of inaction, of allowing more children in Gaza to be massacred and starved, on our watch, we all assessed as much greater — Caoimhe Butterly The vessel is carrying a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza, including baby formula, food and medical supplies. Supporters say they expect the crew members will be held for a time before being deported, most likely in the next 72 hours. Caoimhe Butterly, an Irish organiser and psychosocial supports co-ordinator with the FFC, who has been onboard previous attempts by the organisation to reach Gaza, said all of the participants in the current sailing had been aware of the risks but had felt compelled to participate due to the importance of the issue. 'We were in contact with all 12 on the Madleen until the moment of the boarding of the ship last night,' she said. 'All of the participants and crew faced into the possibility of arrest or violence with calm and unity and focus on the urgency of the mission. 'The risks of this journey were something we spoke about and analysed for months while we planned it, but the risk of inaction, of allowing more children in Gaza to be massacred and starved, on our watch, we all assessed as much greater.' [ Israel seizes Gaza aid boat containing Greta Thunberg Opens in new window ] Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the EU should sanction Israel over the Madleen incident and its wider actions in relation to Gaza. 'Israel has no authority in international waters, nor has it any legal right to block aid from Gaza,' he said. 'The EU must act immediately to let humanitarian aid in to the starving people of Gaza now.' Amnesty International said the boarding of the Madleen was unacceptable and that in continuing to restrict the flow of humanitarian aid, Israel had 'flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice'. In a post on social media platform X on Monday morning, the Israeli Foreign Ministry mocked those on board the Madleen, which it referred to as a 'selfie yacht'. It said the Madleen was 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries'.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Opposition calls for ‘vote of conscience' on Israel Bonds
The Central Bank of Ireland is the designated authority in relation to the sale of Israel Bonds in the EU. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said: 'We have failed as an international community to prevent a genocide from happening so now we have to do everything in our power to make sure that we stop it.'
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Trinity College Dublin formally cuts all ties with Israel
TRINITY College Dublin has announced it will cut ties with all Israeli universities and companies. The decision, made by the university's board this week, follows growing public outrage in Ireland over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A taskforce, formed last year, recommended full divestment from Israel. 'This taskforce was created following the board-approved resolution statement after the encampment on campus last year,' Trinity said in a public statement. Chaired by former High Court President Mary Irvine, the taskforce met over a dozen times, reviewed a variety of evidence and received nearly a hundred written submissions from students and staff. 'I want to thank Mary Irvine and the other members of the taskforce who contributed significant time and expertise over the past year to consider these important issues so thoroughly,' the college said. This total divestment will see Trinity end its remaining academic exchange agreements with Israeli universities and stop it from starting any new partnerships with Israeli institutions or businesses. Current Erasmus exchange deals with Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem will remain in place until they're due to end in 2026. In its collaborative research, the report noted the 'college is engaged in a number of EU-funded research consortia which include Israeli partners. There is no evidence to associate any of these with breaches of international humanitarian law or human rights violations. The taskforce accepts that College cannot readily extract itself from these agreements.' In regard to the length of the divestment, 'these will be enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law,' the statement said, noting that the decision will remain under review. The Board is expected to revisit the report later this year. Zoe Lawlor of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign hailed Trinity's decision in a statement, calling it a 'landmark step in academic rejection of apartheid Israel's regime'. Dublin's recent formal recognition of Palestine, alongside Spain and Norway, cemented Ireland's position as one of Europe's most vocal critics of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Ireland's support for South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice has drawn sharp backlash from Israeli officials. Late last year, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin, accusing the Irish government of stoking antisemitism, claims firmly rejected by both the Taoiseach and President. As one of Ireland's most prominent academic institutions, Trinity's actions could set a precedent for other universities at home and abroad. With solidarity movements and divestment campaigns happening across Britain and Europe, this could influence others who are pressing similar demands on their universities. Trinity's taskforce will present a final report later this year. Campus protest on college green (Image: @TrinityBDS @tcdsu via See More: Gaza, Israel, Mary Irvine, Trinity College Dublin
