Support for United Ireland drops, but support for European Union remains strong in new poll

A wide-ranging All-Ireland poll has found a drop in support for a United Ireland but strong support for the European Union. 

The poll, conducted by Amarách Research, is the first dedicated all-island opinion poll on EU issues, and asked participants a wide range of questions in relation to the island of Ireland and it’s relationship with Europe.

The headline figure from the poll poll of 1200 people by European Movement Ireland found that support for a United Ireland has dropped from 31% to 24% year-on-year among voters polled in the Republic of Ireland, with the figure sitting at 45% in Northern Ireland.

Support for remaining a member of the European Union stands at 88% among those surveyed in the Republic, with 79% of Northern Irish participants also voicing their support for Ireland remaining within the bloc.

Recent debates over Ireland’s role within Europe with regards to defence also factored into the survey, with 49% of those surveyed believing that Ireland should be part an increased European security and co-operation, a drop of 10% from last year’s survye.

With European elections taking place next June, the survey found that 74% of people in Northern Ireland and 51% in the Republic believe that Northern Ireland should be represented in the European Parliament.

Northern Ireland had 3 seats in the European Parliament, but no longer occupy the seats since Brexit took place in 2020.

Brexit loomed large over the survey, with two-thirds of those polled in Northern Ireland believe that Northern Ireland is doing worse since Brexit, while 51% of those polled in the Republic sharing the same opinion.

64% of respondents Northern Ireland who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum believe Northern Ireland is doing worse since the vote was carried out.

Participants were asked what areas would they like to see the EU take more of an active role in, with 32% wishing for more European involvement in healthcare, with 28% expressing interest in more European involvement in the housing sector.

Notably, 43% of people aged 18-24 and 49% aged 25 – 34 in the Republic said they would like to see more of a role for the EU in housing.

Discussing the findings, Noelle O’Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, said “since Brexit, the relationship between people in Northern Ireland and the European Union has been uncertain and we think it’s important to measure public sentiment towards the major issues affecting the relationship between the European Union and this island.”

“What’s surprising is the large jump of people in the Republic in one year – up from 43% to 58% – who don’t believe there will be a united Ireland in the next ten years. This is particularly noteworthy as the responses on this issue remained relatively constant over three years, with about one-third of people in Ireland saying they believed there would be a United Ireland in the EU.”