Thread by @danobrien20

IREXIT THREAD
1) A new party is being established with the main or even sole objective of withdrawing Ireland from the EU. Report here
rte.ie/news/politics/…

2) I personally think Irexit would be an extremely bad idea, and have set out the reasons why a number of times. The first column linked here is from mid 2015 and the second from a few months the Brexit referendum.
independent.ie/opinion/column…
independent.ie/opinion/column…

3) There is always a debate to be had and it's certainly not all about economics. But I don't think anyone could argue that leaving the EU would not come at a massive price, many times greater for Ireland than for the UK, which is a much less open economy.

4) Pollster @kevcunningham has recently done a poll on Irexit. The Ireland Thinks poll found that 94% of those surveyed wanted to remain in the EU.

5) None of the 18-24 year olds supported Irexit. As with the British, Irish respondents become less EU-positive with age, but unlike our neighbours that stops in middle age. Older Irish cohorts become more supportive, unlike in the UK where older folk are most pro-Brexit.

6) There is something of an urban/rural divide on EU/Irexit, with almost no support in the capital and its region. One in ten elsewhere are against remaining.

7) As might be expected, support for remain is weaker among those who support populist-inclined parties and independents, but at one in ten it is still marginal.

8) Attitudes on more/less integration are more mixed. A hefty majority (56%) favours the status quo. More than twice as many support going deeper compared to those favouring less Europe.

9) Attitudes by age on more/less/status quo integration are curious. Despite zero support among the young for Irexit, they were also the most supportive (20%) of less integration.

10) To conclude with a pretty obvious point: the new Irexit party looks to have its work cut out for it. I can't wish them luck, but happy to debate respectfully the issues at any stage.

Poll details below.

ENDS