09 July 2025 European Movement Ireland CEO Noelle O Connell and Deputy CEO Lorna Hayes appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on EU Affairs to discuss the findings of European Movement Ireland’s EU Poll 2025.
The poll revealed that support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union remains strong at 82% in 2025, however it has dropped to its lowest level since 2013. Now in its twelfth year, the annual European Movement Ireland EU Poll, is the only island of Ireland poll dedicated to European affairs.
Appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs, CEO Noelle O Connell said; “European Movement Ireland’s EU poll provides a timely insight to ordinary citizen’s perspectives at this critical time for Europe. While support for EU membership remains strong, we cannot be complacent.
The findings highlight concern across a range of issues including the EU response to migration, the war in Ukraine, the recent EU-UK reset, global trade tensions and EU-US relations and a decline in trust in our governing institutions, among other matters.
If these concerns go unaddressed, they could present challenges for Ireland’s EU membership into the future – we cannot take it for granted.”
EM Ireland’s EU 2025 poll revealed that nearly three in five people cited the cost of living as the most pressing issue for people in the Republic, particularly for younger people, with housing also featuring strongly among respondents’ top five worries, and over half the population expressed concern about migration. However, over two in five people rated EU-US relations, the EU’s response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the Israel-Palestine conflict as prominent concerns. Meanwhile, over half of the respondents in Northern Ireland cited the Israel-Palestine conflict as their top concern at EU level.
Joining the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs, Deputy CEO and Head of Research and Policy Lorna Hayes said; “The findings from this European Movement Ireland’s EU Poll reflect a growing unease among citizens about the EU’s global role and its ability to uphold its core values, particularly in response to ongoing international crises.
The fact that 41% of respondents in the Republic and a striking 52% in Northern Ireland cited the EU’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict as a top concern underscores a clear demand for more principled, consistent, and effective EU engagement on human rights and foreign policy. EM Ireland’s findings provide a critical insight into citizens perspectives across the island of Ireland and can help share key policy decisions into the future.”
Amárach Research was commissioned by European Movement Ireland to conduct research on EU sentiment across the island of Ireland. This work builds on previous research commissioned by EM Ireland; the programme was built around a nationally representative sample of 1,200 in both jurisdictions. The survey data collection was undertaken online, and the data was collected and analysed on Amárach’s VoxCo platform. The two polls ran simultaneously in both locations, with fieldwork dates occurring between 26th-28th March 2025.
For more poll findings see European Movement Ireland’s EU Poll 2025