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Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Irish support for EU membership falls amid immigration fears
Irish support for EU membership has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years amid fears over immigration, a poll has found. Fewer than half of the people in the study said they thought the bloc was heading in the right direction. There has been a slow decline in support since a high in 2019, during the Brexit negotiations, when 93 per cent of people backed continued membership of the bloc. Now, 82 per cent of people said that Ireland should remain in the EU. That is the lowest level of support since 2013, when European Movement Ireland began carrying out the annual polls in a country with some of the strongest pro-EU sentiment in Europe. Brussels had backed Dublin's concerns over the post-Brexit border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Support for EU membership last year was 84 per cent in Ireland, meaning a drop of two per cent. In Northern Ireland, where most people voted Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, support for EU membership increased by one per cent to 77 per cent this year. About 34 per cent of people in Ireland felt the EU was not upholding its core values, and 26 per cent were dissatisfied with its direction. While 47 per cent said they thought the EU was headed in the right direction, 43 per cent said they didn't believe their views were represented at EU level. Immigration control was cited as the biggest reason why people in Ireland thought the EU was going in the wrong direction. But 35 per cent of those saying they were dissatisfied with the EU's direction cited migration. EU red tape (24 per cent) and the perceived militarisation of the bloc since the war in Ukraine (24 per cent) in neutral Ireland were also mentioned. Half of the respondents said they backed increased EU defence cooperation. EU asylum policies have been attacked by anti-immigration campaigners and far-Right parties in Ireland, which is in the grips of a housing crisis. Despite that, 56 per cent of people said they backed more countries joining the EU, which would mean more nationals being given freedom of movement rights. The survey of a representative sample of 1,200 people was carried out by email on March 26 and 28 by Amárach Research and was published on Thursday. Noelle O Connell, head of European Movement Ireland, told the Irish Times that the level of support for the EU was still 'incredibly high'. She said the research showed Irish people were pleased to be part of the EU trading bloc because of the threat of tariffs from US president Donald Trump. Conor McGregor, the mixed martial arts fighter, plans to run in October's presidential election on an anti-immigration ticket. McGregor, who recently lost a civil court case for rape, has vowed to hold a referendum on EU reforms to asylum law if elected president of Ireland. He has also suggested Ireland should leave the EU if necessary to avoid US tariffs from Donald Trump, who recently welcomed him to the White House. However, it is not certain McGregor will get the support he needs to be able to stand in the election to be Ireland's head of state.
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Support for Irish membership of EU at lowest level since 2013, poll suggests
Support for Ireland's membership of the European Union has dropped to its lowest level since 2013, a new opinion poll has suggested. However, the annual European Movement Ireland poll still found strong backing for Ireland's membership of the EU at 82 per cent. Advertisement The research also suggested that 43 per cent across Ireland do not believe their views are represented at EU level. The all-island poll conducted into European affairs by Amarach Research is now in its 12th year. The survey found that 34 per cent of respondents feel the EU is not upholding its core values and 26 per cent are dissatisfied with its direction. The research also found that 36 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with Ireland's role and influence in Brussels. Advertisement Noelle O Connell, chief executive of European Movement Ireland, said: 'It is encouraging to see strong support for EU membership in Ireland, albeit a decline on recent years. 'In our 12th 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. '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.' More than half of respondents (56 per cent) cited cost of living as the most pressing issue for people in the Republic of Ireland, along with housing (41 per cent) and migration (53 per cent). Advertisement The poll suggested EU-US relations (44 per cent); the EU's response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict (43 per cent) and to the Israel-Palestine conflict (41 per cent) were also prominent concerns. Respondents in Northern Ireland cited the Israel-Palestine conflict as their top concern at EU level (52 per cent). Half of those polled in the Republic of Ireland believe the state should be part of increased EU defence and security co-operation, with 32 per cent opposing it and 18 per cent unsure. Ms O Connell said: 'This year's poll clearly shows that Irish people are worried about both domestic and global issues, from the cost of living and housing to EU-US relations and the EU's response to migration and international conflicts. Advertisement 'As the debate on the future of Europe's security and defence continues, building trust, dialogue and understanding around this complex issue is more important than ever.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (PA) The poll also suggested that a majority would support a united Ireland within the EU, with 67 per cent in Northern Ireland and 62 per cent in Ireland in favour. Opposition to a United Ireland in the EU is higher in Northern Ireland (27 per cent) compared to the Republic of Ireland (16 per cent). In Northern Ireland, a majority (60 per cent) believe changes in the EU-UK relationship following Brexit have not improved the region's relationship with the EU. Advertisement Ireland Politics watch: Browne under fire over 'housing ts... Read More Amarach Research was commissioned by the European Movement Ireland to undertake the survey on attitudes to the EU across the island of Ireland. It used a sample of 1,200 people aged 18 or over in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The data was collected online between March 26-28 and has a margin of error: +/- 2.5 per cent.
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
60% in NI don't believe London-Brussels reset has improved NI's relationship with EU, poll finds
Six in 10 people in Northern Ireland don't believe that the London-Brussels reset in relations has improved Northern Ireland's relationship with the EU, according to a new poll. The European Movement survey also indicated that more than two-thirds of people here (67%) say they would support a united Ireland within the EU, compared to 62% in favour in the Republic.
Belfast Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Poll reveals 60% of people here don't believe London-Brussels reset has improved NI's relationship with EU
Six in 10 people in Northern Ireland don't believe that the London-Brussels reset in relations has improved Northern Ireland's relationship with the EU, according to a new poll. The European Movement survey also indicated that more than two-thirds of people here (67%) say they would support a united Ireland within the EU, compared to 62% in favour in the Republic.
Irish Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
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.
