There is currently “no viable alternative” to Ireland’s membership of the EU, a former Ambassador has claimed. 

According to a poll for the European Movement Ireland by Amárach Research, 84% of people in the Republic support continued membership of the bloc. 

9% said they supported leaving the EU, while a further 7% said they were unsure. 

Despite this, an increasing number of respondents said they were unhappy with the direction of the European Union; 49% said they were happy - down 10% since 2023. 

Close to two thirds, 64%, said they were unhappy with the EU’s policy on Gaza and 46% said migration was Brussel’s weakest policy area. 

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, former Irish Ambassador and eurosceptic Ray Bassett said the findings would concern politicians in both Dublin and Brussels. 

“The interesting thing about the survey is that once you drill down into individual areas, then you see much more discontent,” he said. 

“I think probably the most worrying part of the survey is the loss of confidence in authorities - whether it’s the European Union or the Irish Government. 

“In the survey, by far and away the most popular was ‘none of the above’.” 

European Union flags line a red carpet at the arrival area during the European Council meeting, 11-12-2023. Image: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Mr Bassett said he was unsure if the active opposition to EU membership will grow in the years ahead but said personally he would back leaving ‘depending on how the European Union goes’. 

“The European Union, I believe, served Ireland well in the initial years. I think now probably less so,” he said. 

“Our real interest in the European Union is the single market and the economy and that comes out very strongly in the survey. 

“When you start going into some of the more recent developments, heading towards a common foreign and security policy, then you see the opposition in the survey. 

“So, for me, whether we remain a member of the European Union or not, depends on the circumstances.

“Clearly we depend on the single market and I don’t think there’s a viable alternative, so it would depend on the evolution.” 

Support for EU membership was lower in Northern Ireland than in the Republic; 76% backed membership of the bloc - a significant increase since the 2016 Brexit referendum when 56% opted to remain.

Main image: The Irish Tricolour and flag of the European Union are seen in Brussels, Belgium in October 2018. Picture by: ALEXANDROS MICHAILIDIS / Alamy Stock Photo