Poll: 46% would vote against joining a European Defence force, 39% for and 15 % unsure.
POLL – Ireland Thinks / Sunday Independent
Q. “What way would you vote in any future referendum on Ireland joining a European Defence Force?”
Against: 46%
In Favour: 39%
Unsure: 15%June 2022
— Next Irish General Election (@NextIrishGE) June 5, 2022
12 comments
It’s an interesting result. We take it for granted that everyone in Ireland is for neutrality. However that might not be the case.
If I was in the EU and looking at a state of 5 million people who expects full EU solidarity over the Protocol and Brexit, where a lot of high tech IT and medical device is located who could bring employment elsewhere, with a still dubious tax regime and who expects EU Defence support but will not give it, I might reach a conclusion.
Treaties limit action but Ireland is rapidly turning into a liability. We need to see how we look to others.
Every poll conducted on this matter since the early nineties have shown a clear majority in remaining neutral in the sense we are.
These polls and discussions are not organic; people who’ve opposed our neutrality for decades are exploiting the war in Ukraine to push their agenda.
So continue being freeloaders then.
I wouldn’t be against Ireland joining a European Defense force as long as we are provided guarantees that it will remain and operate as exactly that, a ***defense*** force that will not be deployed outside of the EU and will not be used to support a single members actions outside the EU.
For example, if it had existed at the time of 9/11, individual members would be free to send their forces to Iraq & Afghanistan but would not be able to call upon the rest of the EDF to support their operations.
We are (and have always been) neutral in theory, not in practice. As things stand, being able to officially claim to be neutral has some (albeit minor) diplomatic benefits. What would we have to gain by changing that?
Leo wont like to see those numbers.
Irish people are fucking clueless about foreign policy.
Only a few months ago, there was a poll showing overwhelming support for retaining our neutrality, and another poll showing majority support for joining NATO. Both polls within a day or two of each other.
Very much feels before reals when it comes to foreign affairs it would seem. The lack of public debate about foreign affairs is extremely poor.
At the very least, it’d be nice if people stopped pretending that our neutrality makes us uniquely capable of resolving conflicts all over the world.
Every individual that votes yes should be forced to sign up for the first tour abroad with zero exceptions.
This has absolutely nothing to do with protecting ourselves. It has everything to do with FFG wanting to give more public money to private weapons manufacturers and contractors so that they can get their cushy board positions after they leave public office.
What the fuck is happening to this country. Have we not seen enough war? Has enough Irish blood not been spilt due to imperialism already? It’s like they are trying to radicalise people. Fucking war mongers and west brits, what a fine fucking government we have.
Anyone who would vote for it has no fucking clue about the current state of the army and what it would cost us to get it up to scratch.
Oof. Kinda obvious that a country with no warrior spirit, a flailing military, and out of touch foreign policy wouldn’t be up for a European defense force. Let’s sit this one out like we do everything else.
It’s not well known or published in the press, but we already have had small specialist units, such as the Irish ARW, assisting NATO in offensive operations over recent decades!