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IRISH PEOPLE ARE the most optimistic citizens in Europe, an EU agency has found.
Just under half of Irish respondents to the latest quality of life survey by Eurofound said they feel optimistic about the future, which was 15 percentage points higher than the European average.
Eurofound, the Dublin-based EU work and society research centre, also found that Irish citizens record higher rates of life satisfaction compared to other European countries.
The survey, conducted in Spring 2024 and published today, shows that Irish respondents have the most optimistic view on life, with Denmark and Austria the next most optimistic countries.
The researchers said rates of optimism recorded in those aged between 16-29 were, on average, 18 percentage points higher than those aged 40-45.
Within age groups, recorded rates of optimism also fluctuate depending on factors such as disability, employment and relationship status, gender, education and income levels and whether or not the respondent lives with a significant other.
Those with higher levels of disposable income were more likely to record positive rates of optimism compared to those on lower income levels. Respondents who were unemployed or had a disability were also found to have significantly lower rates of optimism.
Meanwhile, Ireland placed joint third, with six other nations, in the life satisfaction rating, by country. Respondents recorded a satisfaction level of 6.2, slightly higher than the European average of 5.8.
Joining Ireland in the third-place spot are Germany, Spain, Czechia, Luxembourg and Finland.
Researches found there has been a declining level of life satisfaction among respondents aged between 35-64 in recent years. Researchers also found that employment status and levels of income impacts respondents’ satisfaction levels.
Ireland scored higher-than-average in areas like the rates of remote working, and also on views towards the status of democracy and trust in public institutions, as well as on being able to make ends meet.
However, the research centre states that a notable cohort of European citizens, three in ten, are struggling to make ends meet.
One in ten respondents said they had missed a rent or mortgage payment since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, while 15% reported that they were in arrears due to utility bills.
Citizens in Greece, Estonia and Croatia were most-likely to report financial difficulties to researches. The most common unaffordable expenses included new furniture, leisure activities and holidays.
Others reported having a only small amount of money to spend on themselves each week or for meeting with family or friends at least once a month.
Head of social policy at Eurofound, Massimiliano Mascherini, said the results of the survey reveal that sustained levels of inflation have “depleted” financial resilience.
He said it has led to certain cohorts of society struggling every day.
“This is having notable social and political consequences,” he added.
Eurofound recommended that EU nations implement stronger social security nets for citizens who are financially struggling and address unmet healthcare needs for those with disabilities, mental health needs and general long-term health issues.
Separately, the research institution also recommends that member states implement national strategies to address the mental health needs of European citizens.
On employment, Eurofound suggest the continued promotion of flexible and hybrid working structures – such as the right to disconnect already in place in Ireland – and encourage more employment for people with disabilities.
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As soon as he settles in on his lucrative salary and extravagant expense account he’ll most likely fall into line and go with the flow
Labour does not represent the working class and
A most unlikable individual he can fall in with any party,
@K O: he was liked enough to have had a successful political career for the past 20 years or so.
@donal O’brien: he lost his seat on a number of occasions
A bunch of wasters in that Labour party.
The minute they got a few new seats they went straight back in with FFG, Obviously they haven’t moved on, they did it last week in Dublin.
Because the Journal imagines I am spreading misinformation by describing scientific method modelling and academic funding as a major problem for society, they blocked a comment on the hateful legislation where the government controls information.
Considering that the politicians are one cog in a lucrative wheel spreading the notion that controlling human behaviour equates to controlling the weather, it is dismaying to see the electorate react to comments made to demonstrate how that misadventure (misinformation) emerged.
@Gerald Kelleher: set up your own website and stop whinging
It is a remarkable experience, albeit in an unwanted way, to see how easy it is for misguided politicians to get around the ‘hate speech’ legislation which would not fly with the different approach in an article I can’t comment on because the Journal restricts it. The Journal does allow every meaningless reaction directed at me to remain.
Are commenters so docile, so subservient that they can’t identify that some elements in society with influence work against the Irish community?
I often demonstrate that there is just information, for good or for bad, and it is up to people to decide whether that information leads to a misadventure.
@Gerald Kelleher: The comments directed at you are not meaningless at all.
They are other peoples opinions which count just as much as yours does.
If you are trying to persuade people you opinion is correct, you need to communicate in a better way.
You do have a habit of pontificating and of overcomplicating simple issues.
Try using plain English that woud help!
@Gary :
The difference is that discussing ideas and sharing information only attracts few and you are unlikely to stick around for that. I could tell you that you are wasting your time, but you already know that.
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Roosevelt
People should not be so gullible, after all, the legislation being brought in also brings ‘hate speech’ legislation in under the radar of electoral misinformation or disinformation. I see it for what it is and the same with scientific method modelling, so if people see this as preaching, that is nothing to do with me.
There is no correct or incorrect, there is just information and the ability to judge what purpose that information serves for individual or politicians.
@Gerald Kelleher: and as far as you’re concerned everyone else is wrong. And you’re right. Narcissistic personality disorder run wild.
@Alan OConnor: There is no right or wrong. There is just what is best for society.
Misusing online insults to pass hate speech legislation in full view of commenters says more about them than it does me.
In the North of Ireland, shin Fein administer the council tax on behalf of their Tory government. House holders get a bill each month and Shin Fein have in the past voted to increase it. Rates are roughly twice the property tax they oppose in the ” Free State”
Me thanks FF lite are using both sides of their mouth on this one.
@H Woo: you do realize that the council tax is set by govt and ALL UK councils collect it to cover local services,bin charges etc.
I will admit it is a very unfair system for some but it is a council run system,not a party one .
@H Woo: The Free State ceased to exist in 1948/1949. the act was made in 1937.
His a teacher, now that says a lot.
@Áine G: he was a teacher.
He doesn’t listen to people, he always wants to impose his ideas & ideology on everybody, everyone else is wrong bar him. Very lucky with the transfers he got, otherwise he wouldn’t have got elected. He won’t make any difference to Ireland in Europe & the reason Labour didn’t come up at the doors, is because working class people have long forgotten them, after what they did previously.
Hilarious, he makes the same noises as all the others and ignores large parts of the community as it is not the latest hot topic.
A member of the party that took medical cards from the sick, terminally ill & children with down syndrome.
Does Aodhán have shares in the journal, he’s had a article about himself or Liebour almost every day since he was elected.
Another TD who can’t survive on a TD’s Salary. Give us a break
Sorry to spoil your send off pleasantries Aodhan, but the Austerity Gov still rankles with those working people still affected by lifetime pension cuts and cancelled medical cards.
Even more so this week, when the very highly paid public service cohort is whinging about the tax they will have to pay on 90k plus pensions!
I wish you well in Europe, but maybe you can put this cruel inequity on your agenda.
Shin Fein voted on that night
with the government to bail out the Banks.
Only the Labour party voted against the bail out.
@H Woo: is that correct?
If Labour voted against the Noonan bail out austerity measures, it would have collapsed that Gov.
@H Woo: The Dail was presented with information and a course of action that was proposed.
That the information presented by the government to the Dail was not correct is not the fault of any other party not in government at the time.
That Labour sold us out *afterwards” when the true situation came to light is a terrible indictment on that party.
That Labour visited the worst of the burden on those least able to bear it tells us all we need to know about that party.
By their deeds ye shall know them.
@William Kelly:
Not sure how it works, but shin Fein vote may have being enough for the bail out to happen without Labours numbers.
Heard this on the Pat Kenny show one morning.
Mary Lou denied in the studio they voted to bail out the banker so Pat Kenny had one of his researchers fact check it during the show.
@William Kelly:
Not sure how it worked.
Maybe shin Fein’s vote for the bail out made up the numbers.
Heard about this one morning listening to the Pat Kenny show, Mary lou stated they did not vote with the government to bail out the bankers.
Pat Kenny had one of his researchers fact check her.
Turned out she was wrong.
Remember in 2011 when SF policy was to tell the IMF to go and take their money with them. SF never were able to say where the one billion a month to keep school and hospitals was going to come from.
Country was bankrupt and only the IMF / EU loaned us money to keep the lights on.
Choice was that stark, make cut backs or run out of money.
@Sean Butler: The country was only bankrupt because the government decided to bail out bondholders.
Bondholders which they did not have to bail out.
Bondholders which they were still bailing out years after the collapse of the banks.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: SF voted to bail out the bamks. Labour.voted against it.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Don’t forget. Bond holders are also made up of,
Pension funds, Credit Unions, Trade Unions, Banks with little old ladies life savings.
Remember Iceland when the government allowed there banks to fail? Icelanders braking down bank doors climbing in windows trying to get what was left of their savings. Which was around 50cents in the euro.
Maybe our government picked the least worse option.
To avoid her bringing the far right with her…
The more I read the more I worry
have your say