Taken in their totality, the results of this week’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll suggest a national mood of dissatisfaction with the pace of progress, tempered by a continuing wariness of radical change.
While the relatively static state of party support may in part be due to the fact that there is little prospect of a general election in the near future, it also means voters are right to think that the Government should be capable of addressing key problems such as the shortfalls in housing and infrastructure.
That is borne out by the poll results, which show widespread impatience with the recurring failure to deliver. Respondents support bolder action on both public and private housing, with sizeable majorities supporting greater investment in social housing as well as enhanced incentives for private landlords if that improves supply. It is noteworthy, however, that only a minority have been directly affected by the housing crisis. There remains a suspicion that many of those who express concern about housing may be more motivated by other priorities when it comes to electing a government. And politicians will note that voters favour spending more and saving less of the surplus generated by windfall corporate tax revenues.
Respondents support constitutional amendments on the right to housing and on copperplating Irish military neutrality. Neither proposition will find much favour in Government ranks, where memories endure of the bruising defeats of the care and family referendums two years ago.
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But Ireland’s position on defence and security in an increasingly multipolar world is set to be the focus of debate in the months ahead as legislation to remove the triple lock progresses through the Oireachtas. Retention of the triple lock itself, which requires a UN mandate for the deployment of Irish defence forces on overseas peacekeeping missions, is supported by voters, although they are more evenly divided on this than on some other issues, such as the overwhelming support for age restrictions on social media use.
Voters are clearly conscious of the fraught international outlook, in particular the disruptive and unpredictable behaviour of US president Donald Trump. The threat of punitive US tariffs damaging Ireland’s economy may have receded but, if anything, Trump’s capacity to upend international norms has grown. The poll shows narrow support for the traditional St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House by the Taoiseach but far less enthusiasm for Trump receiving an invitation to attend the Irish Open, which is being held at his own Doonbeg golf course later this year.
On this as on other questions, it seems, both the Government and the electorate are still seeking the correct balance between pragmatism and principle in pursuit of real results.
