A new poll has found that only a third of people in Ireland believe EU countries should contribute more to the bloc’s budget.

The annual ‘Ireland and the EU’ poll carried out by European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) records a drop in support for EU membership since the height of the Brexit negotiations.

While some 84% of people are still in favour of remaining, the figure is down from 93% last year.

Just 35% said Ireland and other member states should contribute more to the EU budget, with 41% saying they shouldn’t and 24% saying they didn’t know.

Image: EM Ireland Poll

There was also a significant drop in support for any increase in Ireland’s involvement in EU security and defence. Having polled at 58% last year, support for increased involvement is now at 49%.

There was an even split in opinion on whether the EU has responded well to the COVID-19 pandemic – with 47% believing it had and 46% believing it had not.

Meanwhile, three-quarters of people think membership is good for the Irish economy – with the trade deals that are in place benefiting the country.

Image: EM Ireland Poll

EM Ireland Executive Director Noelle O’Connell said: “We were surprised by some of the results, which show that, despite a very healthy 84% wanting Ireland remain in the EU, there remains much to discuss and debate in relation to specific EU policies.”

“The high numbers of ‘don’t knows’ to many of our questions this year, coupled with only one in three who felt that their voice is heard as a citizen of the EU makes it clear to me, and indeed for our ongoing work in EM Ireland, that there is a considerable need to improve and sustain public dialogue in Ireland on EU matters.”

Image: EM Ireland Poll

The poll found that just 27% of people believe a trade deal will be agreed between the UK and EU by the end of 2020.

Meanwhile, more than half said they don’t believe EU countries should take in more refugees with 35% saying they should.

One-third of people said they expect ot a united Ireland in the EU within the next ten years with 42% disagreeing and 26% saying they didn’t know.

Less than one-in-five people believe Ireland should give up its veto on tax and allow member states to make decisions on taxation by majority vote.