All-Ireland findings from the 2010 European MSM Internet survey

Overall, there were a total of 2,610 valid respondents - 2,194 (RoI) and 416 (NI). This represents the largest ever all-Ireland sample of MSM – more than double the previous largest sample held in the year 2000 (1,290 respondents), and four times greater than the last internet survey held in 2008 (n=689). Previous all-Ireland surveys include: Vital Statistics (2000); Real Lives (2003 & 2004); Real Lives 2 (2005 & 2006); Real Lives 3 (2007 & 2008). According to EMIS, the response in the Republic of Ireland was the fourth highest among all the survey countries, with an estimated response rate of 5.1 per 10,000 inhabitants in the general population. This equates to roughly 5% of the MSM population, based on an MSM population estimate of 3% of the male population.1 From this dataset, a further three thematic reports will be released with key findings and programme-level recommendations intended to both help equip the MSM community in Ireland, as well as to provide evidence-based data and analysis to inform policy and programme design directed at MSM, particularly for those who are gay and bisexual. These four reports compare equivalent data sets from previous similar surveys as appropriate. As an internet-based survey, recruitment was focused online: 70% of participants were directed to the questionnaire from advertisements on international gay websites Gaydar (39%), Manhunt (17%), and GayRomeo (14%). The remaining respondents were directed from advertisements on various national and local LGBT community and HIV-related websites (e.g. Gay Health Network, GCN, QueerID, Gaire), or from posters and postcards distributed in various gay venues advertising the survey. The methods used to carry out the survey are described in detail in the full European report to be released later.