Public support for Ireland’s EU membership has fallen to its lowest point in over a decade, according to a newly released opinion poll, reports Breaking News.
Despite this drop, the annual poll by European Movement Ireland still shows that a significant 82 per cent of people support Ireland remaining in the EU.
The study also revealed that 43 per cent of people across Ireland feel their opinions are not adequately represented at the EU level, reports Breaking News.
Now in its 12th year, the all-island survey on European issues was carried out by Amarach Research.
Results showed that 34 per cent of participants believe the EU is failing to uphold its core principles, while 26 per cent are unhappy with the direction it is taking, reports Breaking News.
In addition, 36 per cent expressed dissatisfaction with Ireland’s current influence and involvement in EU decision-making in Brussels.
Noelle O Connell, the 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,” reports Breaking News.
“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,” reports Breaking News.
The poll highlighted key concerns such as EU-US relations (44 per cent), the EU’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war (43 per cent), and its response to the Israel-Palestine conflict (41 per cent).
Among those surveyed in Northern Ireland, the Israel-Palestine issue ranked highest, with 52 per cent listing it as their primary concern regarding the EU, reports Breaking News.
In the Republic, 50 per cent of people believe Ireland should support deeper EU cooperation in defence and security, while 32 per cent are against it and 18 per cent remain undecided.
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. 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,” reports Breaking News.
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