Migration major issue for Irish in EU Parliament elections 

While the EU’s defence and security is the joint-third most important priority on average for the EU, it is ranked eighth for Irish people.

Irish people had the sixth lowest view of Russia, with 89% of people having a negative view of the country.

In relation to the US, the view is split with equal numbers (47%) having a positive or negative view.

The EU Barometer conducted interviews with more than 26,000 people across the EU, including 1,000 in Ireland, last February. 

It found the top four priorities for the EU were relatively equally split: fighting poverty at 33%, public health at 32% and the economy/jobs and EU’s defence and security both at 31%.

“The importance citizens attach to EU defence and security has increased over the course of the parliamentary term, particularly in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the Eurobarometer report said.

The top four priorities for Irish voters reveal:

• Public health is the number one issue — 46%;
• Migration and asylum is the second biggest issue — 42% (EU average 24%)
• Poverty is third — 36%;
• Economy is fourth — 33%; 
• EU’s defence and security is down in eighth place — 17% — among Irish people polled.

“In 11 countries, the topic of ‘the EU’s defence and security’ is among the top three issues that need to be discussed as a priority during the election campaign period,” the Eurobarometer report said.

“The percentages who think so vary across countries, with the highest shares in Denmark (56%), Finland (55%), Lithuania (53%) and the Netherlands (50%) and the lowest shares in Spain (14%), Ireland and Malta (both 17%).” 

Asked what the EU should focus on in the future to reinforce its position in the world, defence and security was the most important issue for the average EU citizen at 37%. Ireland was second lowest in terms of choosing this issue at 26%.

Only 6% of Irish people had a positive view of Russia, compared to an EU average of 12%. The highest rates were in Bulgaria (40%) and Cyprus (39%)

The European Parliament elections are being held between June 6-9
— on June 7 in Ireland, along with local elections.

Only Malta and the Netherlands place the issue of migration and asylum higher than Ireland.

In contrast to defence, Irish citizens placed the same priority on tackling terrorism and organised crime as the average EU citizen, both at 19%. It was highest in Sweden (40%).

Irish people placed slightly higher importance on tackling climate change (29% vs 27%).

In other questions, 47% of Irish people surveyed said they had difficulty paying bills, compared to an EU average of 36%.

In contrast, Ireland was ranked second in people thinking, in general, that things in Ireland were going in the right direction (52% vs EU27%).

Asked if things, in general, were going in the right direction in Europe, Ireland was in top spot (49% vs EU32%).