Voters favour EU constitution, poll shows

Irish voters are strongly in favour of an EU constitution and opposed to the development of a "two-speed Europe", according to…

Irish voters are strongly in favour of an EU constitution and opposed to the development of a "two-speed Europe", according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent

This reflects an increase in anti-EU feeling.

On a separate issue, 80 per cent believe the GAA should make Croke Park available for rugby and soccer matches during the planned redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium. Some 12 per cent believe it should not be opened and 8 per cent have no opinion.

Support for opening GAA headquarters to other games is evenly spread across all regions, age groups, social groups and party supporters.

READ MORE

The poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday last week among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points in the 42 Dáil constituencies throughout the state.

In relation to negotiations on an EU constitution which the Government is trying to revive during its EU presidency, 47 per cent are in favour of such a constitution, 21 per cent are against and 32 per cent have no opinion.

Support for a constitution is highest in the better-off ABC1 social category (58 per cent), Fianna Fáil voters (57 per cent), Labour voters (56 per cent), urban dwellers (54 per cent) and Dubliners (52 per cent). The poll suggests opposition is highest among Green Party and Sinn Féin voters (31 per cent) and the over-65s (29 per cent).

There is strong opposition to a two-speed Europe - a development in which some member-states who favour closer and faster integration would form a group within the EU, while the other member-states would form an outer group. Some 33 per cent favour such a development, 58 per cent are against it and 9 per cent have no opinion.

There has been a significant increase in anti-EU sentiment since a poll last September, as the proportion with no opinion on the issue then has shifted substantially to the anti-EU side. Some 51 per cent said the statement that "Ireland should do all it can to protect its independence from the EU" came closest to their view, up 11 points.