Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I commend European Movement Ireland on the excellent work. It is quite fascinating and enlightening. In respect of polling in Northern Ireland, in years gone by, for example, before the Good Friday Agreement, it was reported by many that polling was notoriously unreliable due to personal security issues, perhaps. With this online version, I imagine European Movement Ireland is satisfied that it is much more reliable in a more modern Northern Ireland - there is peace. Amárach Research or any other polling company are only as good as the terms of reference in the questions asked. Sometimes, in polling, for example, for chat shows or snapshot current affair programmes, there is an over-simplistic, rhetorical and loaded question. That does not appear to be the case; some of the questions are extremely open-minded, "Yes" or "No". The respondents are not nudged either to an unconscious bias or whatever. I commend European Movement Ireland on the open-minded nature of the questions. They have greater credibility as a result.

My colleague on this committee, Deputy Troy, said that certain results are heartening. I concur with him in that respect. There is another dimension of these results on which I would like to get Ms O'Connell's view. Are they hardening? I looked at pages six and seven; one question was, "Since Brexit, do you think Northern Ireland in overall terms is better or worse off?" There was 66% in that response. Unfortunately, we cannot drill down into that figure to look at the disposition of the respondents and whether they are inclined to vote unionist or republican. It does not give us that information, I think, based on a previous question. That seems to be a hardening position. On the next page, the question is, "Do you think Northern Ireland should have representation as MEPs?" That was a thumping 74%, larger than the numbers in the North who voted to remain. Is something at play?

Does European Movement Ireland see in its expert analysis that positions are strongly consolidating in that regard? People can look at it more calmly in a more calm, honest environment with less flag-waving and some home truths seem to be coming through. Those are my observations. I thank European Movement Ireland for its latest work. It is very important. I hope it does more in the future.