THE IRISH electorate is likely to reject any attempt to amend the Lisbon Treaty to deal with the financial crisis in the European Union, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll.
When asked how they would vote on an amendment to the Lisbon Treaty to extend the powers of the EU to deal with the financial crisis, 47 per cent said they would vote No; 28 per cent said they would vote Yes; and 25 per cent were undecided.
The resistance of the electorate to voting Yes in another EU referendum will be an important consideration for Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the European Council negotiations which resume in Brussels today.
Opposition to further treaty changes is relatively consistent across all regions, classes and age groups.
The best-off AB voters are least hostile to a treaty change, with the poorest DE category the most hostile, but there is a majority against change across the board.
In party terms, Fianna Fáil voters are most supportive of a treaty change, closely followed by Fine Gael voters. Sinn Féin voters are the most hostile, followed by Labour voters.
In the context of the presidential election, those voting for David Norris are least hostile to a treaty change while, surprisingly, those voting for Gay Mitchell are even more adamantly opposed than supporters of Martin McGuinness and Dana Rosemary Scallon.
The poll was taken between Friday and Monday last among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over, in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all 43 constituencies. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.
Voters also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the manner in which European leaders are running the EU.
A total of 55 per cent of voters said they were dissatisfied with EU leaders; 27 per cent said they were satisfied; and 18 per cent had no opinion.
There is dissatisfaction with EU leaders among supporters of all parties. Sinn Féin voters are by far the most critical, while Fine Gael supporters are the most satisfied, followed by Fianna Fáil voters.
On the other hand, when asked if it was better to be part of the EU or not to be part of it, there was still strong support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union, with an increase in those saying it was better to be part of the union since the last Irish Times poll on October 4th.
The result was 67 per cent (up two points) saying it was better to be part of the EU; 23 per cent (down two points) saying it was not; and 10 per cent having no opinion.