Speaking on Monday about whether there was any spill-over of Brexit (Britain’s withdrawal from the EU) into Irish public opinion, the author of the Eurobarometer report Dr Stephen Quinlan said: “I found no evidence here of any mushrooming Euroscepticism in Ireland. However, a significant proportion of Irish people are distrustful of the EU.

“There is a direct correlation between levels of education and levels of distrust in the EU - levels of trust rise in proportion to levels of education. We can also see that there is a not insignificant proportion of neutral opinion.”

On any so-called Irexit, the poll showed that 67% disagree that Ireland would be better outside of the EU, while only 25% agree, ranking Ireland the seventh most in favour of remaining in the EU across Europe.

In spite of the Brexit vote, 38% of Irish people think the Irish economy will get better in the next 12 months

On the EU’s main policies, 90% of those surveyed are in favour of freedom of movement of other EU nationals (EU average 81%) and 85% are for economic and monetary union, including the euro (EU average 70%).

Positive image of EU

Some 55% of Irish people have a positive image of the EU, the highest among member states and 20 points above the EU average. Only 13% have a negative image of the EU. However, certain groups are more likely to have a positive image of the EU than others. More educated people have a greater likelihood of having a positive image of the EU as are people who think the Irish economy is performing well and those who say they trust the EU.

In spite of the Brexit vote, 38% of Irish people think the Irish economy will get better in the next 12 months, while 45% think it will stay the same. Only 13% believe it will worsen.

The study is compiled from the analysis of data collected in November 2016 in over 1,000 face-to-face interviews.

Brexit

Britain voted to leave the EU on 23 June 2016. As over 40% of Irish food exports go to the UK each year, our agricultural industry is widely acknowledged as being the biggest potential victim of Brexit.

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