EM Ireland / RED C 2018 Ireland and EU Poll

Since 2013, EM Ireland has commissioned RED C Research to do a poll on Irish - EU sentiment. 2 years on from the vote for Brexit in the UK and co-inciding with Europe week, (7-11 May 2018) we commissioned RED C to carry out its annual poll on Irish – EU sentiment – covering Brexit, #futureofeurope, Irish -EU membership amongst other questions. We launched the report today as part of our work during Europe week. As ever, hugely interesting findings with the main takeaway that 92% believe that Ireland should remain a part of the EU - this is the highest ever since we first started these polls in 2013.

 Our Press Release and link to the full poll is issued below:

The majority of Irish people believe Brexit is a mistake, but just 44 per cent think that it makes a united Ireland more likely, according to a recent European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) / Red C poll. For the first time support for Ireland remaining in the EU has jumped to over 90 per cent, with 92 per cent agreeing that Ireland should remain part of the EU. The annual survey of Irish attitudes to the EU also indicates growing support for Irish involvement in increased EU defence and security cooperation.

 Opinion on the implications of Brexit for a united Ireland is split. 44 per cent agree and 44 per cent disagree that it makes a united Ireland more likely with 12 per cent saying they don’t know. Those under 35 years of age (54 per cent) are most inclined to say that Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely, while in the over 35s category only 39 per cent agree that it is more likely. When asked about the UK government’s red lines in the Brexit negotiations on leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union, 73 per cent of people in Ireland said that the UK should remain in both, rising to 83 per cent amongst farmers.

 Commenting on the findings, Noelle O Connell, Executive Director of EM Ireland says: “People are very clear that leaving the EU would not be in Ireland’s interests. However, there is understandable uncertainty about what changes Brexit will bring to Ireland, the border and the Ireland-UK trade relationship in the long term.”

 Only 11 per cent of respondents think that Ireland should leave the EU, given the UK have voted to leave. This shows a dramatic decline from 2013 when support for Ireland leaving the EU in the event of Brexit was at 30 per cent.

 “Contrary to recent claims, at 92 per cent support for Ireland’s membership of the EU remains strong; in fact it is at an all-time high since we first undertook this poll in 2013,” continues Noelle O Connell.

 On the issue of defence and neutrality, a majority (59 per cent) agree Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security cooperation. This shows an increase of 2 per cent since April 2017, before Ireland signed up to PESCO.

 Noelle O Connell comments: “The increase in the number of don’t knows from 3 per cent in 2017 to 8 per cent in 2018 suggests that there is a need for increased public awareness around PESCO and other elements of security cooperation. This reflects what we heard from people during our recent series of nationwide Citizens’ Dialogues on the Future of Europe.”

§ The full findings are available at http://bit.ly/EMIRedCResults2018

 § Findings in summary:

 92%      agree that Ireland should remain a part of the EU, with support greatest in Dublin (96%) and amongst 18-24 year olds (97%)

 87%      agree that taking everything into consideration, Ireland has on balance benefited from being a member of the EU

 58%      agree that Ireland should contribute more to the EU budget to continue to get these benefits

 59%      agree Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security co-operation, with 62% of men and 56% of women agreeing. Support is highest amongst 25-34 year olds (67%) and in Dublin (66%). Support is lowest in Connaught/Ulster (52%)

 11%      agree that given that the UK has voted to leave the EU, Ireland should also leave the EU with support for leaving the EU lowest in Dublin at 7%

 92%      agree that it is important that Irish people to input into the Future of Europe debate on the future development of the EU

 73%      agree the UK should stay in the EU Single Market and the EU Customs Union with 83% of farmers agreeing.

 44%      agree that the vote by the UK for Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely, 44% disagree and 12% don’t know. People aged 18-24 years are most inclined to say that a united Ireland is likely.