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Irish among the most pessimistic in Europe: Autumn 2011 Standard Eurobarometer

Trust in the EU:

Trust in the EU among Irish respondents is only 24%, a drop of 20% compared to the Spring 2011 survey and well below the EU average of 34% (also down 7%).

The percentage of Irish people who tend not to trust the European Union has also risen by 21 points to 60%. Trust in the European Union is highest in Bulgaria at 59% and lowest in the UK at 17%.


Trust in the Irish government:

Trust in the Irish government has also dropped to 22%, a drop of 20% since Spring, but is close to the EU average of 24%.

People in Luxembourg (68%) were most likely to trust their government and people in Greece least (8%). However trust in political parties in Ireland was up slightly to 13% (EU average of 14%).


National economy:

Only 3% of Irish people think the situation of the Irish economy is good, the second lowest in Europe after Greece, where only 1% think their economy is good and just below Spain where it is 4%. In total 96% of Irish people think the economic situation is bad, second highest in Europe after Greece at 99%. Across the EU, 71% of people think the situation of their national economy is bad, but in some countries, such as Sweden (14%), Luxembourg (15%), and Germany (20%), rates are a lot lower.


Impact on jobs:

There is a growing public realisation that the solution of the crisis will be a marathon rather than a sprint. Only 29% (down 2%) of Irish respondents feel that its impact on jobs has reached its peak while 65% think the opposite (up 5%). This compares to EU averages of 23% and 68%. People in Estonia (40%), Bulgaria (38%), Austria (36%) and Latvia (35%) are most likely to think the impact of the crisis had already reached its peak and respondents in Cyprus (16%), the UK (16%) and Portugal (11%) least likely.


Household situation:

Just over half of Irish respondents (51%) think the economic situation of their household is good, up 4% since Autumn 2010. This compares to an average of 61% of respondents across Europe. However, there are wide differences between countries – from 24% in Greece and Hungary to 85% in Netherlands, 88% in Finland, 89% in Denmark and 90% in Sweden.


European Union:

Europeans continue to see the European Union as the most effective actor – ahead of national governments – in tackling the effects of the economic crisis. The EU remains in first place (23%, +1) and is followed by national governments (20%, unchanged). However Irish respondents were a little more likely to view the national government as the most effective actor in tackling the effects of the economic crisis (24% compared to 22%).


Tackling the financial and economic crisis: 87% of Irish respondents think that EU Member States should work together more to tackle the financial and economic crisis, slightly below the EU average of 89%. Levels of support were above 80% in all EU countries bar Austria at 76%.


Economic and fiscal policies:

When asked whether stronger coordination of economic and financial policies among the countries of the euro area would be effective or not, 73% of Irish respondents think they would be effective compared to an EU average of 75%.


Tax on bank profits:

92% of Irish people think the introduction of a tax on bank profits would be effective (EU average of 81%).


Tax on financial transactions:

However Irish respondents were less likely to be in favour of the introduction of a tax on financial transactions at 53% compared to an EU average of 64%. They were however more likely to favour the regulation of wages in the financial sector (87% compared to an EU average of 79%) and closer supervision of hedge funds (82% compared to an EU average of 72%).


Eurobonds:

A majority (60%) of Irish people were in favour of the introduction of Eurobonds (EU average of 44% - lowest in Germany at 26%). Irish people were also more likely (84%) to favour the tighter regulation of credit rating agencies than the EU average of 75%.


Euro:

When asked whether they were for or against a European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro, 78% of Irish people were for, well above the EU average of 53%. Only Slovenia (81%), Belgium and Luxembourg (both 80%), had higher levels of support. 41% of Irish respondents also think the EU should have greater financial means given its political objectives compared to an EU average of 33%. However only 34% think the interests of Ireland are well taken into account in the EU.


When asked where decisions should be made by the national government or made jointly within the EU, the results for the following areas were:


Taxation:

72% of Irish people think decisions should be made by the Irish government compared to the EU average of 68%;


Unemployment:

57% of Irish people think decisions should be made by the Irish government compared to the EU average of 58%;


Reducing public debt:

37% of Irish people think decisions should be made by the Irish government compared to the EU average of 51%;

Future of the EU:

When asked whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the EU, 53% of Irish people were optimistic, a drop of 15% since last Spring. This is above the EU average of 48%, which is down 10%. 37% of Irish respondents are pessimistic about the future of the EU.


Enlargement:

Irish people were less positive about future enlargement of the EU with only 24% being for compared to an EU average of 36%.

Background


The Autumn 2011 Eurobarometer was conducted through face-to-face interviews between 5 November and 20 November 2011. A total of 1,015 people were interviewed in Ireland by Ipsos MRBI between 5 and 18 November 2011.


Further information


Click here for the Autumn 2011 (first) Eurobarometer results