Irish people are favourably disposed towards the European Union, believe membership has clearly been a good thing for the country, are proud of both their Irish and European identities and want to see the EU develop more competence to deal with issues like the environment, foreign policy and humanitarian aid.
And yet they know very little about the constitutional treaty agreed by the EU under Ireland's presidency last year and are mostly undecided about how to vote on it in a forthcoming referendum. There is little accumulation of knowledge on the subject, despite the two Nice referendums and the creation of more effective political ways to handle EU business since then. Nonetheless, the more people learn about the constitution the more they tend to approve of it.
These are the major findings of two recent Eurobarometer polls which have now been analysed in a valuable paper published by the European Commission office in Ireland. There is, as it says, a striking contrast between the two sets of attitudes. This must be taken fully into account in political planning for the referendum, which will probably be held later this year.
The study's conclusion should be compulsory reading for all those involved. "The overall lesson of the Irish referendums on Nice is the need for elites to inform and engage with their citizens", it states. "Favourable attitudes to the European Union cannot be taken for granted as indicating a willingness to participate in a referendum, or to vote 'yes'. Failure to engage people, to communicate with them and to mobilise them to vote may have serious consequences for the ratification process".
Political leaders who want to see the referendum pass cannot say they have not been warned after the publication of the study, which is commented on in this newspaper today by its authors. Those who oppose the constitution will recognise an opportunity to get their message across if the official case in its favour falls victim to inaction.
There is an urgent need for an elementary communications strategy about the constitution and it should not be left until the date for the referendum is decided. The issue will become part of our political agenda as ratifications proceed in other EU member-states, with Spain's referendum being held this weekend. Nor should the political debate about the merits and demerits of the treaty be postponed. Research shows that voters learn through argument and contestation more than from passive information. The constitution is important enough to merit debate now.