Attitudes towards immigration in Ireland largely positive: Research
Source: Irish Sun
DUBLIN, Ireland: Research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) indicates that Ireland's attitudes towards immigration and refugees, while mostly positive, have seen some recent fluctuations.
The study reveals that, overall, Ireland maintains a favorable stance towards refugees and immigration, compared to past sentiments within the country and in comparison with other European nations. However, positivity has decreased slightly over the last six months of 2023, particularly towards certain migrant groups.
Despite the general positivity towards immigration, there has been a notable increase in the proportion of individuals who view immigration as one of Ireland's top concerns.
Conducted as part of a collaborative research program between ESRI and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, and Youth, the report delves into attitudes towards immigration over the past two decades, utilizing representative survey data from across Europe.
Based on a survey of 3,008 adults in Ireland in 2023, the research examines various factors associated with attitudes towards immigration and comfort levels with different migrant groups.
While Irish positivity towards immigration has notably risen over the past decade, there have been recent declines in some indicators, particularly towards immigration from European Union countries. However, Ireland still maintains relatively positive attitudes compared to previous years.
The study also highlights a significant increase in the importance of migration as a concern for Irish respondents, rising from 3 percent to 14 percent between July 2022 and November 2023.
Despite these recent declines, Ireland ranks among the most supportive countries towards immigration within the EU27, according to the November 2023 data.
Attitudes vary based on the origin of immigrants, with greater positivity towards immigrants from EU member states and Ukraine compared to those from outside the EU/Ukraine. Similarly, there is more support for helping Ukrainian refugees compared to asylum seekers.
Moreover, the research suggests that political orientation, perceptions of the past and future, and concerns about housing and services also influence attitudes towards immigration in Ireland.
