People trust European Union more than the Government

IRISH people trust the European Union more than they do the Government, the Dáil, Irish justice, big companies, trade unions and religious institutions.

About 60% of them believe the European Parliament has more power than the Dáil and that its decisions have much the same impact on their lives. Three-quarters of those questioned say the upcoming elections are important, but just 31% definitely intend to vote, while about half say they may do so.

However, when it comes to deciding who to vote for in the elections to the European Parliament, the issues will be mostly national ones that have little to do with the EU, according to the questionnaire carried out by Euro Barometer for the European Commission. The figures show that despite the general distrust of politics, the Irish are in fact more trusting than most of their EU neighbours. Just 16% on average trust political parties, while this is 23% in Ireland.

The same is true of trust in the Government (39%, EU average 30%), the Dáil/parliament (40%, EU average 35%), the EU (56%, EU average 41%), and even the UN (63%, EU average 49%). The only two institutions the Irish are less trustful of than the average European is the religious and the police. Just 38% say they trust religious institutions and 49% do not, compared to an EU average of 41% and 46%.

The figures for the police/gardaí are similar, with 62% trusting and 41% less trusting of the forces of law and order, compared to an EU average of 65% and 29%. National issues continue to be the main reason for voters across Europe when deciding who to vote for while the candidates’ policies are the next most important factor.

From a list of issues Irish people chose crime, employment, immigration, the environment, education and citizens’ rights as the ones they are most concerned about.

For their EU counterparts employment topped the list with immigration and crime coming next.

Irish MEPs are more popular with the voters than those in most other countries with over half those questioned saying their MEP was good at protecting the voters interest.

The Euro Barometer held some good news for the Government in relation to a referendum on the European Constitution with 59% saying they support it, an increase of six points.

This is still lower than the EU average of 63%.