On May 10th, 1972, What Do I Do by Sandie, Joe and the Dixies was top of the Irish charts, and it was the day the electorate faced the question of whether Ireland should join the European Economic Community (EEC). Across the country, 70.9 per cent of the electorate cast their ballots, which remains the highest percentage turnout for an Irish referendum. By a resounding 83 per cent, voters in the Republic answered Yes to Europe. There and then, it was clear what Ireland should do.
Now, 45 years on, discussion about Ireland's relationship with the European Union continues. Some participants in the discussion have called, in this newspaper and elsewhere, for more debate on an Irish exit from the EU. They argue that, because of Brexit, Ireland's interests are no longer best served by its continued membership of the EU. Irish citizens have always interrogated and questioned their relationship with the EU. This is only right, and asking what we do has never been more understandable, given the backdrop of Brexit.
It is true that lessons must be learned from Brexit, and the UK’s pending EU withdrawal forces us to consider in sharper detail our position in Europe. The divisive UK referendum illustrated the importance that such a debate is informed. Hyperbole, soundbites and rhetoric are impractical if not accompanied by considered and viable solutions. Disentangling more than 40 years of close and deep co-operation creates multifaceted problems which cannot be ignored.
Steadfast support
So, with that in mind, let’s continue the debate. Is it in Ireland’s national interest to leave the EU? Should Ireland follow the UK’s example?
First and foremost, it's not an exaggeration to say that there is little real public appetite for Ireland to leave the EU. Far from revealing a latent Euroscepticism, a Red C poll in May, commissioned by European Movement Ireland, found that 88 per cent of Irish people believed we should remain in the EU, notwithstanding Brexit. Opinion polls may, to some degree, be only snapshots in time of often complex stances on questions of national importance. However, since 2013, this level of support for Ireland's continued EU membership has remained high and markedly steadfast.
Some of the benefits of being a member of arguably history’s most successful peace project are well known and indeed, often repeated. Yet, they can sometimes appear to us as a given so it is worth reiterating their significance in the context of this debate.
As a result of Ireland’s EU membership, Irish people enjoy the right to live, work, study and travel freely in 27 other European countries. Our largest trading partner is an EU single-market bloc of more than 500 million consumers, to which Irish business enjoys unfettered access. Since its accession in 1973, Ireland has received more than €74.3 billion in funding from the EU to modernise its roads, towns and farms. From Irish students participating in the Erasmus+ exchange programme to equal pay legislation and safeguarding workers’ rights, to enhanced food and environment safety standards, it’s fair to say Ireland has been transformed by its EU membership.
How could access to these considerable advantages continue to be enjoyed outside the EU? Are the alternatives (if they exist) a better option and more attractive than those we currently enjoy and fully avail of?
Political clout
Irish membership of the EU elevates the country’s political clout on the world stage. Far from relegating Ireland to playing in the reserves, EU membership allows small states such as ours to amplify their interests in Europe and on to the international playing field.
Relations with our nearest neighbour, the UK, have normalised and improved greatly within the framework of the EU. Over four decades of shared EU membership facilitated Ireland’s move away from a frankly dependent relationship with the UK, towards a more welcome and equal one of today.
Whether we like it or not, Brexit leads us to think anew about our relationship with both the UK and the EU. As we are already seeing, the negotiations are going to be tough and not straightforward at times as befits a decision of such magnitude.
For Ireland, the question “What do I do?” is once again top of the charts.
The EU is not perfect but instead of turning towards a now historical, periphery, we must recognise that the 21st-century challenges are global in nature and do not respect borders. As an outward-looking nation, we are best served to meet these challenges through co-operation, engagement and influencing solutions as part of a reforming EU.
Whatever Brexit means, staying in the EU remains in Ireland’s national interest.
Noelle O’Connell is executive director of European Movement Ireland