A nationwide Amárach Research survey released on 6 May finds that 31 % of Irish voters who think the European Union is “moving in the wrong direction” cite immigration control as their primary worry—overtaking cost-of-living pressures for the first time since 2019. Support for EU membership remains high at 82 %, but that figure has slipped 11 points in three years. The findings matter for global-mobility programmes that rely on the EU’s free-movement framework and on positive public sentiment toward inward investment. Rising concern could translate into tougher political scrutiny of work-permit quotas, student visas and asylum reform.
![Poll shows immigration now top concern shaping Irish attitudes to EU]()
Companies navigating these changes do not have to do so alone: VisaHQ’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates the latest visa requirements, offers step-by-step application support, and allows both HR teams and individual travellers to track submissions in real time—reducing uncertainty amid shifting rules.
Notably, almost half of respondents want the EU to “do more” on migration. Policymakers may feel pressure to tighten border surveillance or accelerate deportations of failed asylum applicants—measures that risk collateral processing delays for legitimate employment-permit holders. Corporate immigration advisers recommend monitoring the progress of Ireland’s forthcoming Migration and International Protection Bill, which aims to streamline asylum decisions but could also introduce stricter identity-verification checks for all non-EEA nationals. Companies with large non-EU talent pipelines should budget for longer lead times and invest in clear employee communications to pre-empt unease about public sentiment. European Movement Ireland, which commissioned the poll, plans stakeholder workshops this summer to discuss how business, civil society and government can balance openness with public confidence.
Companies navigating these changes do not have to do so alone: VisaHQ’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates the latest visa requirements, offers step-by-step application support, and allows both HR teams and individual travellers to track submissions in real time—reducing uncertainty amid shifting rules.
Notably, almost half of respondents want the EU to “do more” on migration. Policymakers may feel pressure to tighten border surveillance or accelerate deportations of failed asylum applicants—measures that risk collateral processing delays for legitimate employment-permit holders. Corporate immigration advisers recommend monitoring the progress of Ireland’s forthcoming Migration and International Protection Bill, which aims to streamline asylum decisions but could also introduce stricter identity-verification checks for all non-EEA nationals. Companies with large non-EU talent pipelines should budget for longer lead times and invest in clear employee communications to pre-empt unease about public sentiment. European Movement Ireland, which commissioned the poll, plans stakeholder workshops this summer to discuss how business, civil society and government can balance openness with public confidence.
