New survey shows 80% of Irish see the EU as a “good thing”- Clune

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune has welcomed the results of an EU Eurobarometer survey which found that 8 out of 10 Irish people see the EU as a positive thing.

The survey, which conducted over 1,000 face to face interviews with Irish people, also found that 9 out of 10 Irish people think that Ireland has benefited from EU membership.

The same poll also showed that 55% of UK Citizens see EU membership as a good thing prompting Clune to ask whether the poll could be used as a basis for a new referendum on Brexit.

MEP Clune said: “The results contain some interesting stats for Ireland and indeed for Europe as a whole. Irish satisfactions rates with the EU are much higher than the average across Europe and in fact Ireland has the highest satisfaction rating of the EU 28, with Italy having the lowest at 4 in 10 people believing their country has benefited.

“The 55% of people who are happy with the EU in the UK is a different result to their Brexit vote. The research was carried out from the 23rd of September to the 2nd of October this year.
“27, 881 people were interviewed on a face to face basis across the 28 member states with 1002 interviews in Ireland.

“Whilst I recognise that any poll is just a snapshot in time, nevertheless these results are consistent with trends we have seen post the economic crash and more importantly for Ireland post Brexit.

“I am encouraged by these results as they demonstrate that Irish people believe our future is at the heart of Europe and that the issues that concern them most are prosperity and job opportunities and personal freedoms which they understand can best be delivered through a Union of European states.

“I am always ready to admit that the EU is not perfect and that it is constantly evolving and adapting as events arise, but we must remember that the EU has brought peace and prosperity and its values are more important in today’s globalised world than ever before.”
ENDS