Support for Ireland's EU membership at lowest level since 2012, poll suggests

RTÉ News​

07-05-2025

Support for Ireland's membership of the European Union has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, a new poll suggests.
The survey conducted by Amárach Research, for the European Movement Ireland (EMI), suggests support fell from 93% in 2019 to 82% in 2025 - its lowest level since 2012.
EMI said that while strong support for the EU remains consistent, 43% of those questioned do not believe their views are represented at EU level.
That said, 47% of respondents are satisfied with the EU's direction.
The poll suggested that 34% of people do not feel the EU is upholding its core values and 26% are dissatisfied with its direction.
The key issues identified were the EU's response to migration (35%); and EU regulation (24%).
Although some expressed dissatisfaction with EU militarisation (24%), 50% in the Republic believe Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security cooperation. 32% of those questioned opposed such a move, 18% unsure.
36% of those questioned said they were dissatisfied with Ireland's influence in Brussels, at a time when Ireland remains underrepresented in EU institutions.
Now in its twelfth year, the annual European Movement Ireland's EU 2025 poll is the only island of Ireland poll dedicated to European affairs.
Its Chief Executive Noelle O'Connell said: "It is encouraging to see strong support for EU membership in Ireland, albeit a decline on recent years."
"It is clear that we cannot be complacent, with some people expressing dissatisfaction with the EU's current trajectory and Irish influence at EU level," she added.
Ms O Connell said it is important citizens feel their views are heard "across all levels of the EU" given the war in Ukraine, EU-US trade talks and what she termed "the increasing influence of populism".
Polling of Republic of Ireland adults found that the cost of living, at 56%, was the most pressing issue - particularly for younger people.
Other issues cited were migration (53%); EU-US relations (44%); the EU's response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict (43%); the Israel-Palestine conflict (41%); and housing (41%).
Respondents in Northern Ireland cited the Israel-Palestine conflict as their top concern at EU level (52%).
The poll suggests a majority of people on this island would support a United Ireland within the EU, with 67% support in Northern Ireland and 62% in the Republic in favour.
Opposition to a United Ireland in the EU is higher in the North (27%) compared to the South (16%), while a higher proportion in the Republic (22%) say they don't know, in comparison to just (7%) in Northern Ireland.
In the North a significant majority (60%) believe that changes in the EU-UK relationship following Brexit have not improved Northern Ireland's relationship with the EU, only 29% agree, while 11% remain unsure.
In what is a noteworthy finding, there is a major decline in trust in institutions with a majority in Ireland (40%) and Northern Ireland (39%) stating they do not trust governing institutions, with only 30% in the Republic expressing trust in the EU and the Irish Government.
Interestingly, in Ireland, almost half (49%) of 18-24 year olds trust the EU the most, and in Northern Ireland, the EU is the most trusted institution (29%), with the least level of trust (6%) expressed in the Northern Ireland Executive only marginally behind the UK government (7%).