Why Europe Matters
The impact of EU membership on Ireland, and the challenges ahead.
Born in the ruins of World War II, evolving into a six-nation coal and steel pact in 1951, the European Union (EU) has grown into a vast 27-member political and economic bloc with a unified single market. To mark the beginning of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), the Government of Ireland will host the College of Commissioners at University College Cork (UCC) in July 2026. The Arch examines the impact of EU membership on Ireland, and the challenges ahead.
Over 50 years of EU membership
In 1972 in the Egmont Palace of Brussels, Patrick Hillery, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, and former Taoiseach Jack Lynch signed the Accession Treaty. This would see Ireland officially join the then EEC a year later, paving the way for fifty years of transformation as a result of EU membership.
In 1973 the average house price in Ireland was €9,909, and average annual industrial earnings were just under €2,000 per annum. Thin Lizzy just had a hit with Whiskey in the Jar and the Arab-Israeli war saw fuel prices surge by 300 per cent as more fuel-efficient cars were sought. Éamon De Valera stepped down as President of Ireland at the remarkable age of 90, and 16 years of Fianna Fáil in Government would end with Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach leading a coalition Government of Fine Gael and Labour.
Food, drink and tobacco was Ireland’s main export in the 70s. EU structural and cohesion funding would be put towards opening up an economy, which had over 180,000 unemployed by the 1980s. Between 1994 and 1999 Ireland received the equivalent of more than €1 billion in EU funding for road building. This represented 61 per cent of the total spend on roads during that period. Ireland was being opened up not just internally but to the world. From 1973 up to 2018 Ireland was a net recipient of over €40 billion in EU funds.
Much of the legislation to protect vulnerable groups came from European legislation
In 1973, following a referendum, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was signed into law in January, removing the “special position” of the Roman Catholic Church and other named religions. While later that year, one of the first instances of European legislation influencing Irish law occurred when the ban on employing married women, known as the Marriage Bar, was lifted with the enactment of the Civil Service Act in 1973.
"Much of the legislation and structures to protect workers, consumers, and vulnerable groups came from European legislation or cases to European Courts. We take these for granted now as they are part of Irish law, though we should acknowledge the EU's role in the progressiveness of Irish society in recent decades" notes Professor Declan Jordan, at Cork University Business School.
A critical moment for Europe
Reflecting on Ireland and the EU to The Arch, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, states that Ireland's EU Presidency comes at a defining period. "Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a critical moment for Europe. We face significant economic uncertainty, growing security challenges and rapid technological change. But alongside those challenges are opportunities – to strengthen our economy, accelerate innovation, deepen cooperation and build a more secure and prosperous future" highlights Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee.
“The scale of our ambition for the Irish presidency reflects the scale of the challenges and opportunities facing Europe today across the core pillars of our agenda: competitiveness, values and security. In my view, these three pillars go to the heart of what we want to achieve every day in Europe, and they are deeply intrinsically interlinked. Without security, there can be no prosperity. Without competitiveness, we cannot sustain our societies. And without values, none of it matters.”
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"The Irish Saint, Columbanus, was the first to use the words 'all of Europe' with reference to Europe's destiny, giving hope at a time of intense divisions, and such inspiration that the founding father of the EU, Robert Schuman, described him as the patron of all who seek 'to build a united Europe.'"
"The struggling economy and society of the 1970s and 1980s was transformed by the cohesion, structural, and research funding we received from the EU. Investment from the EU in Ireland has helped Ireland modernise its infrastructure."
EU FINANCIAL SUPPORT
€40
Billion
From 1973 up to 2018 Ireland was a net recipient of over €40 billion in EU funds.
GDP PER CAPITA
2
Ireland ranks second in the EU in terms of GDP per capita, with €81,200, well above the EU average (€38, 100)
EU ATTITUDES
52%
The majority of Irish respondents to a 2026 Eurobarometer survey, want the European Parliament to address inflation and the cost of living
Peace and Reconciliation
‘The philosophy that created the European Union and the peace of Europe, is the philosophy if you study it that is at the heart of our agreement’, stated John Hume, as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998. The EU served as a light on the hill providing support and inspiration in dark days during the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Brexit reinforced the EU’s commitment to the model that created peace in Northern Ireland, and through the Peace Plus programme, jointly financed by the EU, the UK government, the Irish government, and the Northern Ireland Executive, over €1 billion is allocated to support cross border cooperation.
The peace process was never just about political agreements
"The peace process was never just about political agreements. It was built in women's centres, community halls, youth projects and local organisations where people did the difficult work of building relationships, addressing conflict and supporting those most affected by violence, poverty and exclusion." commented Dr Theresa O'Keefe, Department of Sociology & Criminology, UCC.
"Brexit had a devastating effect on the relationships that had been carefully built over decades through cooperation, mobility and shared programmes. EU PEACE funding recognised the importance of that work and invested in it over the long term. Women's organisations and community groups were particularly affected by virtue of the fact that many relied on European funding streams that supported cross-border collaboration and grassroots peace-building."
Changing Minds
While EU membership assisted in growing peace and prosperity in Ireland, one significant impact was in the changing of attitudes. In a deeply conservative Catholic Ireland women were discriminated against for opportunities and for rates that they were paid. EU Gender equality laws introduced in the 1970’s made it law for the first time that Irish men and Irish women would receive equally pay for equal work.
Dr Fiona Buckley, in UCC's Department of Government and Politics, highlights how EU membership exposed Ireland to new ways of thinking and living. "Women’s agency and activism, oftentimes manifested through legal cases, as well as the influence of supranational actors such as the EU, have become the key drivers of societal change for women in Ireland since the 1970s, a trend that continues to this day."
"There is still significant scope for improvement in Ireland, for example, the prevalence of precarious employment contracts and the absence of a properly funded public childcare system in Ireland, continue to disproportionately affect women’s working lives. Nonetheless, campaigners persist in advocating for reform, often leveraging EU mechanisms to advance their aims."
"EU membership has had a transformative effect on the lives of women and girls in Ireland. From the beginning it normalised an expectation of equality, with the abolition of the Marriage Bar in 1973, ensuring access to the workplace for women in public service jobs. This shattered the perception that men ought to be prioritised for roles in the workplace and challenged the longstanding view that the primary and indeed optimal role for women was as homemaker" highlights Professor Louise Crowley in UCC's Law School.
In Ireland homosexuality was illegal until 1993, Dr Diarmuid Scully, Lecturer in UCC’s School of History, points to EU membership as playing a significant role in changing Irish law and minds. “Ireland's laws against homosexuality were inherited from British rule. Conservatism on issues of sexual morality kept them in place here. When the LGBTQ activist David Norris's appeals for decriminalisation to the Irish High Court (1977) and Supreme Court (1983) were rejected, he appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in his favour in 1988. That decision, and the spotlight it put on Irish laws throughout the EU, played a major role in pushing Ireland to decriminalise homosexuality in 1993."
Up until the 1999 Treaty of Amsterdam, the relevant EU Treaty provisions addressed discrimination on the grounds of nationality and sex only. Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) acted as a breakthrough in legislating in this area. Article 13 of the TEC empowered the EU to adopt measures to deal with discrimination on other grounds, including sexual orientation.
"EU membership has had a transformative effect on the lives of women and girls in Ireland. The strict gendered delineation of roles in Irish families, workplaces and broader society were no longer acceptable, neither socially or legally."
"The 2026 Court of Justice of the European Union ruling against Hungary's 2021 anti-LGBTQ laws was a major legal and moral victory over discrimination against LGBTQ people within the EU. From an Irish perspective, this makes LGBTQ people here feel safer, valued and truly included."
Boston or Berlin?
In 2000, then Tánaiste, Mary Harney, spoke of how ‘Ireland was spiritually closer to Boston than Berlin’, Ireland with its large diasporic community in the US has always had a familial current flowing across the Atlantic. Ireland’s rejection of the Nice Treaty in 2001, and Lisbon Treaty in 2008, caused political tremors, yet on the whole Irish public support for the EU has remained strong. A recent European Movement Ireland poll showed that 82% of respondents support Ireland's EU membership.
Visa-free travel and the right to live, work and study in all 27 EU Member States, the Single Market and the adoption of the Euro in 2002, all contributed in shifting Ireland’s mindset on what for an Irish generation was colloquially referred to as, ‘the continent.’ Irish living standards lifted, ‘The Canaries’ entered the Irish vernacular as an annual holiday destination, the rise of ‘no frills’ airlines promoted ‘city breaks’ in Paris, Berlin and Rome, the island at the periphery was bound closer to the European mainland.
Deep foundation of public support for Irish EU membership
“Initially, the direct benefits of membership flowed to a small number of groups, most especially farmers. By the 1990s, EU membership was contributing to the economic and social transformation of Ireland. Deep and profound economic expansion altered the lives and livelihoods of people across Ireland. The connection was obvious for all too see and it sealed the deep foundation of public support for Irish EU membership. Ireland is a net contributor to the EU now but Irish people continue to see net positives in membership. Nothing is permanent in politics but it would take a deep rupture to substantially alter Irish attitudes" outlines Professor Theresa Reidy, Department of Government and Politics, UCC.
“The EU is usually only invoked when governments want to share the blame for decisions that might be unpopular with segments of the electorate. EU institutions were a particular whipping boy during the bailout in the economic crisis years but the effects of this have largely washed through the system.”
Five decades of CAP
Ireland was almost totally economically dependent on farming before joining the European Union. Agriculture accounted for 24% of the Irish workforce in 1973 when Ireland joined the EU, compared with just 4% in 2023. Through the 2014 – 2020 period Ireland received a total of €10.68 billion in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding towards the agricultural sector and rural development.
Irish agriculture today is very different sector than what it was in the 70’s. The Irish agri-food sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheep meat and dairy produce exported annually. The United Kingdom remains Ireland’s largest trading partner with 38% or €6.8 billion of agri-food products exports in 2023. EU countries accounted for 34% at €6.2 billion.
High degree of dependence in some farming systems
"Ireland receives more than €1.5 billion annually in CAP funding, making the sector the largest recipient of EU funding. However, this support has also created a high degree of dependence in some farming systems. According to Teagasc, direct CAP payments accounted for 129% of average family farm income on cattle-rearing farms in 2024, illustrating that many businesses would be loss-making in the absence of support payments. By contrast, direct payments represented less than 20% of family farm income on dairy farms, reflecting the stronger commercial performance of that sector" comments Professor Thia Hennessy.
"From an Irish perspective, the 2023 CAP reform has generally been viewed as positive because it secured almost €10 billion in funding for Irish agriculture between 2023 and 2027, while also allowing greater flexibility to design programmes and allocate supports to national priorities" states Professor Hennessy.
"Irish agriculture remains exposed to growing geopolitical uncertainty, including trade disruptions, market volatility and shifting international policy priorities."
A very different economy
Ireland’s economy today is unrecognisable to what was evident in the 70’s. In 2022, services accounted for over 56% of overall Irish GDP, followed by manufacturing at 34%, agriculture is at 0.9%. Low corporation taxation, and a stable business environment contributed to ensuring Ireland is a significant global player in the technology and pharmaceutical industries. Apple, Google, Pfizer and Facebook are among the companies that have European headquarters here. Cork is a globally recognised pharma hub, with seven of the world’s top fifteen life sciences companies based in this region.
After a long decade of stagnation, annual research investment in Ireland hovers below European average levels and falls well short of the 3% of GDP target to which governments signed up in Lisbon in 2000. Public R&D spending in Ireland is one of the lowest in the EU, accounting for only 0.2% of GDP. Nearly 60% of research equipment is over 10 years old; one-third is over 15 years old.
Competitiveness
Professor John Cryan, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at UCC underlines the central role of research and innovation within competitiveness across the EU. "It is encouraging to see research and innovation increasingly recognised as central to competitiveness, both in Ireland and at European level. The evidence is clear: countries that invest in research are better positioned to generate new industries, attract talent, improve productivity and respond to emerging societal and economic challenges. UCC's engagement with Horizon Europe has been transformative, driven by the ambition, excellence and collaborative spirit of researchers across the university. Spanning all disciplines, this work has strengthened UCC’s position within the European research and innovation landscape and demonstrated the value of international collaboration in addressing shared societal challenges."
"UCC has emerged as one of Europe’s leading universities for Horizon Europe innovation activities, reflecting a strong commitment to translating excellent research into real-world impact through entrepreneurship, industry engagement and collaborative innovation. The success of Tyndall National Institute, in particular, highlights how sustained investment in research excellence and European partnerships can deliver international leadership in semiconductors, attract investment and create economic and societal impact."
"Supporting this momentum" highlights Professor Cryan, "is UCC Futures, which provides a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration by bringing together expertise across ten thematic areas . This approach fosters open, engaged and interdisciplinary research while enabling researchers to tackle complex challenges through innovative partnerships."
A globally recognised pharma hub
The growth and development of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector in Ireland over the past 30 years has been remarkable – over 90 companies are now part of the Irish BioPharmaChem sector including 8 of the world’s top 10 biopharma companies. Employing over 80,000 people directly and indirectly, with annual exports of over €116 bn, the economic impact of the sector is very significant, accounting for some 20% of Ireland’s GDP.
"Strategic national initiatives such as SSPC, the Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals, and the next phase of this Centre, Rinn Pharma & Biopharma, and NIBRT have provided a rich landscape for research collaboration and knowledge sharing. To exemplify this, earlier this year we published a key paper describing the current state of the art in relation to continuous flow for pharmaceutical manufacture featuring 9 industry partners and 3 universities – it is rare to see multiple global multinationals working together in this way" highlighted Professor Anita Maguire, Director, UCC Future Pharmaceuticals.
Ireland has evolved as a bridge between the US and the EU
"Ireland has evolved as bridge, in economic terms, between the US and the EU. The scale of multinational investment in Ireland has raised a false Boston or Berlin dichotomy in Irish economic discussions. While we attract and retain US investment due to our tax rates, EU membership, educated workforce, and stable politics, Ireland's economic model more closely resembles our European partners" outlines Professor Declan Jordan, Cork University Business School
"Ireland's economic model more closely resembles our European partners. Our political, economic, and social systems mean we have a counterweight to worst aspects of the US' worship of markets as solutions to almost all economic and social issues" states Professor Jordan.
"Ireland's pharma sector depends on the provision of a ready supply of high quality graduates, especially at PhD level. The greatest risk is not moving fast enough."
The Emerald Isle?
Ireland projects itself globally as the ‘Emerald Isle’, it leans into a brand that reflects nature and heritage, yet its environmental scorecard is poor.
Past studies have observed that Ireland is a climate laggard, that has been repeatedly taken to the European Court of Justice for failure to implement EU environmental law, “so bad was Ireland’s implementation of the Waste Directive”, the study states, “that the CJEU designated a new type of finding for breaking EU law – a general and persistent breach (GAP)”.
Ireland’s first National Climate Change Strategy was published in 2000 and Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions remain tightly coupled with economic growth. Agriculture is the largest source of emissions, representing 37.8 per cent of total national emissions in 2023. Both the transport and energy industries sectors represent 24.1 and 14.3 per cent respectively, of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. The transport sector has been the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Around half of surface waters were in unsatisfactory ecological status in the last assessment round for 2019-2024, as reported by data from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency.
In recent years, there has been some encouraging signs. Ireland’s emissions in 2023 are below the 1990 baseline for the first time in three decades. The EU Green Deal Ireland is fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate, compete, and grow across the island. This sweeping European framework, targets 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. Yet Ireland's ambitious target to achieve a 51% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, will be very challenging to meet.
Reliance on fossil fuels
"Since 2018, Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 15%. This was a significant achievement, in particular considering that Ireland's population and economy are both growing, by 12% and 36% respectively" notes Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir, Associate Vice-President of Sustainability, UCC. However recent fuel protests in Ireland highlighted Ireland's over reliance on fossil fuels.
"The recent fuel protests highlighted Irelands continued dependence on fossil fuels and indicates that to achieve a net zero emissions energy system requires a significant transition in terms of how we generate, distribute and use energy . This is a societal challenge, as energy impacts everybody, and will only be successful if there is full alignment of government, industry, research and the public" states UCC Professor Jimmy Murphy, the Director of Rinn Energy, the new national research institute tasked with tackling Ireland's energy decarbonisation.
'Simplification' agenda
"The fraught geopolitical landscape has put the spotlight firmly on robust environmental regulation as a barrier to competitiveness. The EU has embarked on an extensive regulatory “simplification” agenda, with well-established environment rules in the frame for review and revision" notes Professor Áine Ryall, Chair, UNECE Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee
"It is clear that demands for “accelerated” permitting procedures, especially for critical infrastructure, have led to significant push-back against rights of participation and challenge under the Aarhus Convention."
"Balancing the competing demands of economic development and environmental protection has become an even more complex and politically charged exercise across the EU. These tensions will only continue to increase in the current economic climate, with significant potential for regression in environmental protection measures" notes Professor Ryall.
AMBITION
51%
Ireland's target to achieve a 51% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, relative to 2018 levels, is ranked second place globally (behind only Denmark) in terms of ambition.
REDUCTION
15%
Since 2018, Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 15%.
CREDITS
€20
Billion
The Irish Fiscal Council has estimated (using analysis provided by UCC) that due to projected shortfalls in emissions reduction, Ireland may need to buy credits up to a cost of €20 billion to be compliant with EU policy
"While Ireland has set ambitious climate targets, implementation of the agreed measures to achieve rapid emissions reductions are proving to be very challenging. Ireland is performing better in reducing emissions amongst its large polluters and is not on track to meet agreed targets under the effort sharing mechanism."
"Ireland's primary opportunity is the scale of our renewable energy resource. It provides us with the capacity to become energy independent while at the same time address our climate change targets. We have already large scale penetration of wind and solar energy on our grid but by moving it offshore we can really expand to a level not only to meet our electricity needs but also our heating and transport requirements."
From Erasmus to Horizon
At the beginning of the 20th century, only 3,200 students were enrolled at the then five universities in Ireland. In the academic year 2022/2023, the number of enrolled students in Ireland's higher education system was 168,555. In 2023, Ireland had a higher rate of third level education in comparison to the EU-27 average across all age groupings. Higher education in Ireland is a success story. Yet national funding of the sector has not matched the scale of growth.
Helping Ireland lead on a global stage
“Over more than 50 years of EU membership, Ireland’s higher education sector has been transformed through openness, collaboration and ambition. EU programmes have expanded opportunities for our students and researchers, from Erasmus mobility to world-leading partnerships through Horizon Europe, while institutions like University College Cork have helped Ireland to lead and innovate on a global stage"
Looking ahead, Ireland's Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, sees Ireland's chairing of the EU Presidency as an opportunity. "This sustained engagement has strengthened the quality, international outlook and impact of our universities, while supporting regional development and equipping graduates with the skills to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. As we look ahead, continued European collaboration will be vital in addressing shared challenges, particularly in areas such as climate action, digital transformation and inclusion.As Ireland prepares to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, we have a valuable opportunity to build on this legacy, strengthening cooperation in research, skills and talent, and shaping a more sustainable, inclusive and competitive Europe for the future.”
Transnational education
Peter Sutherland, one of Ireland’s EU Commissioners, was considered by many to have been the ‘Father of Erasmus’. Established in 1987, Erasmus, would go on to become the largest study abroad programme of its type in the world. Erasmus+ students and staff coming to study or work in Ireland are responsible for encouraging more than 40,000 visitors annually to the country, who all contribute to the Irish economy. Erasmus together with the Bologona Process in 1999 (now the European Higher Education Area) has had significant impact in internationalising Ireland's higher education system. In recent years, European Universities alliances, there are 65 in the EU, brought together universities across Europe to advance a transnational approach to higher education under shared themes.
University College Cork (UCC) is a founding member of the UNIC alliance, which is composed of ten universities from cities in Post-Industrial Transition. UNIC embodies what has been referred by Enrico Letta, on the future of the EU Single Market, as the fifth freedom – ‘to learn, work together, research, innovate, share knowledge and capacity across borders.’ Dr Jean van Sinderen-Law, Director of European Relations & Public Affairs, UCC, highlights an example of how UNIC operates in sharing knowledge between Europe and local authorities. “Through the EU Net Zero Cities Pilot Cities Programme, the UCC Sustainability Academy have co-developed a micro-credential with Cork City Council on behavioural change for climate action. This programme enables city council staff to design more effective interventions for climate action within their roles. By the end of 2026 the programme will have been delivered to 50 Cork City Council staff.”
“Over more than 50 years of EU membership, Ireland’s higher education sector has been transformed through openness, collaboration and ambition. EU programmes have expanded opportunities for our students and researchers, from Erasmus mobility to world-leading partnerships through Horizon Europe, while institutions like University College Cork have helped Ireland to lead and innovate on a global stage.
This sustained engagement has strengthened the quality, international outlook and impact of our universities, while supporting regional development and equipping graduates with the skills to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. As we look ahead, continued European collaboration will be vital in addressing shared challenges, particularly in areas such as climate action, digital transformation and inclusion.
As Ireland prepares to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, we have a valuable opportunity to build on this legacy, strengthening cooperation in research, skills and talent, and shaping a more sustainable, inclusive and competitive Europe for the future.”
"The European Union has provided a platform for Irish universities to thrive. The challenge now is to build on that foundation and ensure that the next generation of students and researchers can help shape a more sustainable, innovative and resilient Europe."
Challenges & Opportunities
Ireland's most recent Census in 2022 placed the population at close to 5.2 million people, medium based projections estimate it will reach 6.77 million people in 2065. Ireland's population is also ageing, its over-65 cohort expanding by 36.7 per cent between 2016 and 2025. Meanwhile Ireland’s Total Fertility Rate has fallen from close to 2.6 births per woman 40 years ago, to 1.9 births per woman 20 years ago, to 1.53 births per woman, today.
"As Ireland, like the rest of Europe, changes to having an increasingly aged population, there needs to be rapid, large increases in service capacity for age-related diseases, including rehabilitation and home care services. Accessible, local services are key, underpinned by a universal design approach that also considers access to buildings, parking and transport links" states Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Suzzane Timmons.
"As our younger population decreases, we need to facilitate immigration, to incentivise Ireland’s talented young healthcare workers to remain in Ireland and be innovative to keep older people in the workforce. Collaborating with colleagues in Europe through clinical, education and research networks allows us to harness evidence-based guidance and technology to see ageing as an opportunity as well as a challenge.
For Professor Noreen O'Meara, Synnott Family Chair of European Union Law in UCC, a successful chairing of Ireland's EU Presidency is critical. "The opportunity to take on the rotating EU Presidency only comes around twice every generation. Since Ireland last held the Presidency in 2013, emerging from a deep economic crisis, the economic context may have changed, but geopolitical disruption is constant. How the EU handles this - and Ireland’s vision over the coming months - will be increasingly under the spotlight. It’s critical that the Irish government’s priorities of competitiveness, security and safeguarding EU values resonate with people, while advancing, not diluting, the EU’s agenda in other areas - including on workers’ rights and climate change."
Ireland is now a net contributor to the EU budget
Ireland is now a net contributor to the EU budget. In 2002 Ireland contributed €3.6 billion to the EU Budget and by 2027, the Department of Finance forecasts Ireland’s contribution will have increased to almost €4.5bn. The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland has warned that Ireland is too reliant on corporation tax, three companies pay nearly 50% of all corporation tax in Ireland. Real GDP is projected to decline by 1.2% in 2026 and to grow by 3.4% in 2027, and HICP inflation to stand at 3.5% in 2026 and 2.6% in 2027.
The global energy crisis has contributed to significant cost of living pressures in Ireland, most evident by the large scale fuel protests that occurred earlier this year. in the face of these protests, the Irish Government delayed the implementation of the Carbon Tax and provided supports to the transport and agricultural sectors. The EU Commission estimates that fiscal cost of these measures is projected to amount to 0.1% of GDP in 2026. According to Commission estimates, if these measures were to remain in force until end-2026, their fiscal cost would amount to 0.3% of GDP in 2026.
In Ireland, net migration reached 79,300 on an annual basis (between April 2023 – April 2024), following elevated levels in the previous 12-month period (77,600). This represents a significant increase on pre-pandemic trends (average of 37,700 per annum between 2016 – 2020), in part due to Ukrainians arriving under the Temporary Protection Directive. Ireland's 'Future Forty' analysis states that migration appears to be the sole driver of labour force growth in the long run.
Things many of us have grown up taking for granted
Reflecting on Ireland's EU membership, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade highlights the continued importance of the EU's four freedoms. “I have only known Ireland as a member of the European Union, and that is true for many people. Citizens across Ireland and across Europe have benefited enormously from what the European Union has achieved over many decades. The opportunities to live, study, work and travel across Europe, the peace and stability that European cooperation has helped to underpin, and the economic opportunities created through membership are things many of us have grown up taking for granted."
FOSSIL FUELS
€1
Million
Ireland spends one million euro an hour on fossil fuels, Ireland's economy is highly fossil fuel dependent.
PROPERTY PRICES
€600,00
The average price of a home in Dublin is €600,000, property prices in Ireland have doubled since 2015.
HEALTH SERVICE
6
Ireland ranks 6th highest for government spending on healthcare as a share of national income out of 33 OECD economies, yet has limited primary care capacity.
"Small states have greater influence when acting collectively through the EU than when dealing individually with major powers, such as the United States. Canadian PM, Mark Carney, is correct about a rupture in the rules-based international order and if 'you are not at the table, you are on the menu.'"
"The relationship between national foreign policy and EU foreign policy is often a difficult balancing act. We have seen this recently on the issue of Palestine, where Ireland is more supportive of Palestine but some other EU member states are more supportive of Israel. Even on Palestine, however, Ireland has arguably been able to shift the dial amongst EU member states towards a position more critical of Israel."
"The success of modern Ireland has been built on openness, driven in large part through our membership of the European Union. Our economy and our society have thrived because we have been outward-looking, internationally connected with an understanding of our responsibility and our capability to have a positive role in the world. Exposure to diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences, enhanced through decades of inward and outward mobility, have enriched and strengthened our identity as truly global citizens. At UCC, this is at the heart of Global Engagement."
"For me, a successful Irish Presidency is about two things. First, it is about making real progress on important legislative files that will help shape Europe’s future. Second, it is about communicating effectively with people, so they understand what those decisions mean in practice – how they affect their communities, jobs, their opportunities and their daily lives.”
Words: Eoin Hahessy
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