Irish public attitudes towards defence and security are often described as divided, but recent polling suggests something more gradual is taking place. Rather than voters falling into fixed opposing camps, a large number remain undecided, pointing to a country that is reassessing how neutrality, national defence and economic security fit together in a changing European environment.
A recent Business Post/Red C poll found that 34 per cent of voters support government efforts to help Irish companies participate in the European defence economy, while 30 per cent are opposed. The largest group, however, 37 per cent, said they were unsure or neutral. Many people have not yet formed firm views, particularly as defence is increasingly framed in terms of technology, infrastructure protection and economic resilience, rather than traditional military force alone.
A similar pattern emerges when voters are asked about NATO membership. The same poll showed that 33 per cent of voters support Ireland joining NATO, with 30 per cent opposed and many undecided. At first glance, this might appear to reflect a country split down the middle. But attitudes towards NATO cannot be separated from Ireland’s long-standing policy of neutrality, which continues to hold strong public support. Support for Irish neutrality is widely valued by voters and seen as an important part of the country’s foreign policy identity. Joining NATO would represent a fundamental change in that position, involving mutual defence commitments that go beyond Ireland’s current approach. For many voters, the question is not simply about security, but about neutrality itself. It is possible that public support for strengthening Ireland’s ability to defend itself would look different if clearly separated from the question of alliance membership — suggesting that neutrality and defence capability are not necessarily viewed as mutually exclusive.
At the same time, policymakers have become increasingly direct about Ireland’s vulnerabilities. Speaking at the launch of a recent report by the Institute of International and European Affairs and Deloitte, Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne warned that Ireland’s security environment is now “at its most complex, most challenging, and most dangerous point in recent history”. He noted Ireland’s reliance on subsea fibre optic cables, offshore energy infrastructure and gas pipelines, systems that support the country’s economy but also represent strategic vulnerabilities. These risks illustrate how defence today extends well beyond traditional military capabilities. Protecting subsea cables, monitoring maritime activity and defending against cyber threats require investment in surveillance, intelligence and technological capabilities, areas the Government has already identified as priorities for development.
Government policy is beginning to reflect this broader understanding. Ministers are reviewing barriers that have historically limited Irish companies from participating in European defence programmes, particularly those involving dual-use technologies with both civilian and security applications. Ireland is also preparing to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, where defence and security cooperation will feature prominently. None of this represents a departure from neutrality. Instead, neutrality is increasingly being understood in more practical terms. As Byrne has said, Ireland is “militarily neutral but not indifferent”, reflecting a government recognition that economic integration, digital infrastructure and maritime geography create exposure to geopolitical risks.
Public opinion appears to be evolving alongside this shift. The large number of undecided voters suggests that many people are still forming their views on how Ireland should approach defence in a more uncertain security environment. Rather than signalling a country deeply divided, the data points to one that is gradually adapting, moving from seeing defence primarily in terms of military conflict, to recognising the broader need to protect its economy, society, and sovereignty.
