A new poll has revealed that 88 percent of Irish people support continued membership of the European Union.
The poll results come 50 years after the Republic voted to join the European Economic Community (EEC) on this day in 1972.
Carried out in March by Red C Research on behalf of the pro-EU European Movement organisation, the poll also found that 79 per cent of people agreed that EU membership has been positive for them.
Membership of the EEC was approved by voters by 82 per cent cent to 18 per cent half a century ago.
According to the new poll support for continued EU membership is up 84 per cent to 88 per cent over the past 12 months.
People in Ireland are among the most best supporters of EU membership with backing at 93 per cent in 2019.
It later fell back to 84 per cent in 2020 and 2021 before rising again in 2022.
Support for EU membership is strongest in Dublin ,with 92 percent, followed by Munster on 89 per cent.
The remainder of Leinster sits on 88 percent while the figure for Connacht and Ulster is 78 per cent.
The majority of Irish people, 59 per cent, support Ireland being part of an increased EU defence and security co-operation arrangement.
That figure has risen from 49 per cent in 2020.
Noelle O’Connell of the European Movement Ireland believes the increase may be down to the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The data shows that opinion on this subject remains quite uncertain," she told the Irish Times.
Ms O’Connell said it was “encouraging” that support for EU membership remained so high.
“This broad support may be reflected in the fact that a similarly large majority of people agreed the EU has impacted their own lives in a positive way,” she said.
“Irish citizens are consistently among the most positive about EU membership when compared with other member states."
