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Country information - Ireland

Ireland's history dates back to around 6000BC and covers major events like the arrival of the Celts, Christianity, the Vikings, the Normans, the Flight of the Earls (when the Catholic aristocracy fled the country when they refused to accept the sovereignty of the English Queen), the arrival of Cromwell, Catholic emancipation, the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force, Home Rule, the Easter Rising, the formation of the Republic and Northern Ireland.

From 1 January 1801 until 6 December 1922, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Irish state had remained a member of the then British Commonwealth after independence until the declaration of a republic in April 1949. The Republic of Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the European Community (now the European Union) in 1973.

Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

Ireland has a strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin.

	Geography	Ireland

Location

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Area	total: 70,280 sq km

Land	68,890 sq km

Water

1,390 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 360 km

border countries

UK 360 km

Coastline

1,448 km

Climate

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain

mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point

Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural resources

natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

	People	Ireland

Population

4,015,676

Nationality

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

adjective

Irish

Ethnic groups

Celtic, English

Religions

Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5%

Languages

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

	Government	Ireland

Country name

conventional long form: none

Conventional short form

Ireland

Local long form

none

Local short form

Eire

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Dublin

Administrative divisions

26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Legal system

based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mary Mcaleese (since 11 November 1997)

Head of government

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (since 26 June 1997)

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011)

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

Elections

Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

	Economy	Ireland

The economy of the Republic of Ireland has transformed in recent years from an agricultural focus to one dependent on trade, industry and investment. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

Labor force

2.03 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 64%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Population below poverty line

10%

Household income by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%, highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)

Agriculture - products

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries

steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)