Support for the single European currency has fallen more sharply in Ireland than in any other European Union state, according to the European Commission's survey of public opinion.
The proportion of the Irish population in favour of the euro remains the highest in the EU at 63 per cent, but this figure fell by 15 points from the last survey six months earlier. Opposition to the euro rose to 22 per cent, up 9 per cent from the last survey. The "don't-knows" have almost doubled, rising from 8 per cent to 15 per cent.
The survey also measured support for a European constitution, the first time this question was asked of those living in EU countries. Irish support for such a constitution, at 53 per cent, was significantly below the EU average and only the UK had a lower percentage, at 47 per cent.
The Eurobarometer surveys are published twice a year. The full results will be published in September but the Commission released some of the key results early, while they were still topical. Surveys were conducted across the EU states in April and May.
The figures released yesterday show an appreciable fall in Irish support for membership of the EU, though Ireland remains strongly in favour of membership, with 75 per cent of those surveyed believing it is "a good thing".
But the figure is 7 per cent down on that of six months ago. Those believing it to be neither good nor bad number 13 per cent. The proportion who think EU membership is a bad thing rose to 6 per cent.
Ireland was again the most positive when asked about benefits from EU membership, with 86 per cent of those polled believing we had gained. This figure showed a drop of 2 per cent on the last poll.
Irish support for the admission of countries to the EU has also waned, with only 42 per cent thinking enlargement should be a priority, a 7 per cent decrease on the last survey.
Irish support for a common defence and security policy, at 56 per cent, was below the EU average of 73 per cent. Yet Ireland is trusting of the European Commission. Asked about our faith in the Commission, we top the list with 61 per cent of respondents expressing trust, an increase of 1 per cent on the last poll.
The Eurobarometer survey gives striking evidence of how opposition to the EU has hardened among citizens of Austria in reaction to sanctions imposed by the EU on January 31st, after Dr Jorg Haider's Freedom Party joined the ruling coalition.
Only 33 per cent of Austrians believe EU membership is a good thing, and 34 per cent believe that Austria benefits from membership - a decrease of 11 per cent.