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The Journal
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Ireland's support for EU membership remains strong, but poll reveals it's dropped to lowest level
SUPPORT FOR IRELAND to remain in the European Union remains strong, but a new poll reveals support among the public is at an 11-year low. The European Movement Ireland's EU 2025 poll with Amárach Research asked 1,200 people in the Republic of Ireland if Ireland should remain a member of the EU. The poll reveals that 82% agree that Ireland should remain a member of the EU, while 9% said no. A total of 8% said they did not know. The European Movement/ Amárach Research While the 82% figure is strong, it is more than a ten-point drop in the response given to the same question more than five years ago. In 2019, answering the same question, 93% of respondents said Ireland should remain a member of the EU. The following year, in the midst of the pandemic, support plummeted from that 2019 high, with 84% that year saying Ireland should remain in the EU. Since 2020, the figure has fluctuated, but has never recovered back into the high ninety percentile. The European Movement The European Movement The Amárach Research was commissioned by European Movement Ireland to undertake research on attitudes to the EU across the island of Ireland. This research poll is based around a nationally representative sample of 1,200 for each jurisdiction of the Republic and Northern Ireland. Respondents in Northern Ireland also answered the question; their responses showed a five-point difference with people in the Republic, with 77% stating that Ireland should remain within in the EU. The poll asks a number of other key questions, such as whether the EU moving in the right direction, with just 47% of respondents in the Republic saying that it is. Advertisement Migration Of the 26% that stated the EU is not moving in the right direction, the main reason for answering this way was put down to 'immigration control issues', at 35%. The other issues cited were economic and regulatory issues and militarisation concerns. The European Movement/ Amárach Research When it comes to the issue of defence, the poll asked: 'Do you think Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security cooperation?' Of those polled, 50% responded yes, while 32% said no and a total of 18% said they did not know. Support for increased EU defence co-operation was highest among those aged over 55 and lowest among those aged between 25 and 24. Some 36% of respondents said they are not satisfied with Ireland's current role and influence in the EU, while 50% said they are. Cost-of-living When asked which issues people are most concerned about at EU level, the results showed that the cost of living topped the poll, with 56% giving it as their top issue. Migration followed, with 53% stating that this most concerned them at EU level, followed by EU-US relations at 44%. Commenting on the findings of European Movement Ireland's EU 2025 poll, Noelle O'Connell, CEO of the European Movement Ireland, said it was encouraging to see strong support for EU membership in Ireland, despite the decline on recent years. 'In our twelfth year of polling, 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 said. 'At a pivotal time in European politics with intensifying efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the ongoing issues relating to EU-US trade which could have serious implications for Ireland, and the increasing influence of populism, among other issues, it is important citizens feel their views are heard across all levels of the EU.' Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Support for Ireland's EU membership at lowest level since 2012, poll suggests
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%).
