The Irish are the most optimistic people in the European Union (EU). That is the main finding of a new survey by Eurobarometer, which measures public opinion and trends in the EU.
The survey was carried out across 28 states and has also found that optimism has grown by seven points, to 78% in Ireland, over the past 12 months.
This far above the EU average of 56%.
Ireland has also posted the most striking increase in EU optimism - 7 percentage points since the spring of 2014.
Other countries that saw rising optimism are Sweden (66%,) and Poland (74%). On the other hand, optimism has fallen in 15 countries, most steeply in Cyprus at 40%.
Some 53% of Irish people reported having a "positive image" of the EU. Ireland's increase in this category, since spring 2014, was the highest in the EU.
While 72% of Irish respondents feel the impact of the crisis on jobs has already reached its peak - again, this is the highest score in this category.
The rise in 'good' answers to sentiments about the economy is most striking in Ireland, at 38%. This is up 14 percentage points since spring 2014, after a six point increase between autumn 2013 and spring 2014.
While the largest declines were seen in Belgium and Finland.
When asked about issues of national concern, 48% of Irish people surveyed said unemployment is one of the most important issues facing the country.
The economic situation was the second most cited issue.
Unemployment was of slightly more importance to the Irish than the EU average of 45%.
Ciara Eustace is from the EU office in Dublin.
