We need to make sure Ireland’s EU membership continues to work as we celebrate 50 years today, says Noelle O’Connell
IT is now 50 years today since Ireland voted to join the EU.
A referendum in May 1972 saw the Irish people vote by an overwhelming 83 per cent in favour of joining the EEC — which was renamed the European Union in 1993.
Earlier this year, Taoiseach Micheal Martin hailed the role of the EU in bringing peace and prosperity to Ireland.
He said: “A young Irish state transitioned from relative economic stagnation and insularity to embrace economic openness, a place at the heart of the single market, at a competitive and attractive location for global investment.”
A new poll to mark the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s vote to join the then EEC, found support for Ireland remaining a member of the EU has increased four per cent since 2021 to 88 per cent.
Writing in The Irish Sun today, CEO of European Movement Ireland NOELLE O’CONNELL says Irish citizens are consistently among the most positive about EU membership.
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FIFTY years ago today, Irish people voted to join the then EEC — when 83 per cent said ‘yes’ on May 10, 1972.
After 50 years of EU membership, Irish people remain strongly in favour of the EU.
This year’s European Movement Ireland’s ‘Ireland and the EU’ poll, conducted by Red C Research, found that 88 per cent of people support Ireland remaining a member of the EU, up four per cent on last year.
The broad support we see may be reflected in the fact that 79 per cent of people agreed that the EU has impacted their own lives in a positive way.
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When it comes to knowledge about how the EU works, 76 per cent said they had a good understanding.
The Ireland of the 1950s and 1960s was a very different place than it is now.
There were ongoing economic problems, emigration, unemployment and a near total dependency on the British market for exports.
The Irish government wanted to join for most of the 1960s but progress was blocked because the French were reluctant to let the UK in, which affected our efforts.
But finally, in the early 1970s, the door opened.
EU BENEFITS
During the campaign, those in favour of a yes vote highlighted the benefits that membership would bring to agriculture and the economy, including jobs and higher standards of living.
Celebrations to mark Ireland’s accession into the EEC were fairly low-key.
A tree-planting ceremony took place and those born on January 1, 1973 got a commemorative medal.
Looking back on it now, however, the decision to join up was of the most important this country has ever made.
Membership has led to major economic progress. There have also been other benefits which have transformed our country.
IMPROVED RIGHTS
These include improved rights for women and minorities and opportunities to work, travel and study across the EU — unimaginable 50 years ago. The EU has also been a key supporter of the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Our EU membership has allowed us — a small island at the very edge of Europe — to play a central role in shaping the EU as equal partners and to benefit from the support of others.
We have seen this very clearly in the years since the Brexit vote.
There have been difficulties along the way, with further economic trouble in the 1980s, referendum defeats, the financial crisis and Brexit.
Despite all of this, Irish people have continued to support the European Union and Ireland’s place in it.
UNSTABLE WORLD
But we shouldn’t be complacent — things can change quickly.
The world around us is increasingly unstable and new challenges lie ahead.
The war in Ukraine has shaken Europe to its core and is likely to lead to big changes at the EU level and here in Ireland.
People’s attitude to Ireland’s role in increased EU defence and security cooperation has wavered over the years.
It averaged 58 per cent from 2017 to 2019, dropped to 49 per cent in 2020, then increased to 54 per cent in 2021 and rose further to 59 per cent this year.
DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
While the war in Ukraine may account for this slight increase in support, the poll shows that opinion on this subject still remains uncertain.
Other issues, such as climate change and digitalisation, are major EU priorities and leading to major changes in how we work and live here.
Fifty years later, perhaps the greatest measure of the success of our EU membership that it has become a routine fact of life. However, it is a success we should not take for granted.
People here have always shown willingness to support the EU.
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The challenge in the years ahead will be to make sure that the EU continues to work for people in Ireland and across Europe.
We all have a part to play in ensuring it does.