A majority believes Ireland should consider joining a future EU common defence as long as the State can opt into or out of military actions on a case-by-case basis, according to an Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Voters have also swung dramatically behind the Government decision in March to allow US aircraft use Shannon Airport during the war on Iraq.
Some 51 per cent now approve of that decision, 39 per cent disapprove and 10 per cent have no opinion.
This result represents a radical reversal of the position shown in the last poll in February, when just 21 per cent said they would approve of the use of Shannon by the US military without a new UN resolution authorising war.
Some 68 per cent said they would disapprove and 11 per cent had no opinion.
This latest poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies On a future EU common defence 19 per cent said Ireland should refuse to join such an arrangement under any circumstances.
Some 58 per cent said Ireland should consider joining but retain the right to opt into or out of military action on a case-by-case basis, while 10 per cent said Ireland should consider joining a future EU common defence and participate fully in any military actions by that alliance. Some 10 per cent had no opinion.
Asked more generally about military conflicts abroad, 31 per cent said Ireland should remain out of all military alliances and should never participate in war under any circumstances; 51 per cent said Ireland should remain out of military alliances but should consider participating in wars on a case-by-case basis as long as they had a UN mandate; and just 8 per cent said Ireland should consider participation in wars on a case-by-case basis whether they had a United Nations mandate or not. Some 10 per cent had no opinion.
Opposition to participation in wars and to participation in a common EU defence is strongest in the 18-24 age group and among women.
The decision to allow Shannon be used by US forces involved in the war on Iraq has now won approval in all regions, among supporters of all parties except the Green Party and Sinn Féin, and by men in most age groups.
Women and young people still disapprove of the decision to facilitate the US.
Some 49 per cent of women disapprove, 40 per cent approve and 11 per cent have no opinion. In the 18-24 age group, 52 per cent disapprove, 35 per cent approve and 13 per cent have no opinion.
Some 52 per cent of all voters believe the decision on Shannon did not change Ireland's neutral status, 37 per cent believe it did and 10 per cent have no opinion.