Ireland

Ireland

Introduction

Background

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties

six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth

it joined the European Community 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 is gradually being implemented despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 70,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 120 land:68,883 sq km
water:1,390 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 360 km
border countries:UK 360 km

Coastline

1,448 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm

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

Land use

arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops:0.03%
other:83.15% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Total renewable water resources

46.8 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.18cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita:284cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Languages

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Population

4,670,976 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 503,921/female 483,454)
15-64 years:67.3% (male 1,581,959/female 1,560,238)
65 years and over:11.6% (male 246,212/female 295,192) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 34.8 years
male:34.5 years
female:35.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.061% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Birth rate

16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Death rate

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Net migration rate

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

DUBLIN (capital) 1.084 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.81 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 203 male:4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.19 years
country comparison to the world: 26 male:77.96 years
female:82.55 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64

Physicians density

3.187 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 33

Hospital bed density

5.17 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 37

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

6,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

13% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 44

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 62

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years
male:18 years
female:18 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24.3%
country comparison to the world: 33 male:30.9%
female:17.3% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Ireland
local long form:none
local short form:Eire

Government type

republic, parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Dublin
geographic coordinates:53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

29 counties and 5 cities*

Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford, Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence

6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

National holiday

Saint Patrick’s Day, 17 March

Constitution

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

effective 29 December 1937

Legal system

common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law

judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 29 October 2011)
head of government:Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 29 October 2011 (next scheduled for October 2018)

prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president
election results:Michael D. HIGGINS elected president

percent of vote – Michael D. HIGGINS 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL 6.4%, David NORRIS 6.2%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats

49 members 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 lower house of Parliament or Dail Eireann (166 seats

members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held 2016)

House of Representatives – last held on 25 February 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Labor Party 12, Sinn Fein 3, independents 12

House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – Fine Gael 45.8%, Labor Party 22.3%, Fianna Fail 12.0%, Sinn Fein 8.4%, United Left Alliance 3.0%, New Vision 0.6%, independents 7.8%

seats by party – Fine Gael 76, Labor Party 37, Fianna Fail 20, Sinn Fein 14, United Left Alliance 5, New Vision 1, independents 13

note – after November 2009 disbandment of the Progressive Democrats, the two members of the Senate continued as independent DPs
note:on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

Judicial branch

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

Courts of First Instance (includes High Court)

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Michael MARTIN]

Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]

Green Party [John GORMLEY]

Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]

New Vision

Progressive Democrats or PD [Noel GREALISH] (formerly dissolved on 20 November 2009)

Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]

Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]

The Workers’ Party [Michael FINNEGAN]

United Left Alliance

Political pressure groups and leaders

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence)

Families Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism)

Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas)

Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank)

Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard Boyd BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world)

Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group)

Keep Ireland Open (environmental group)

Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters)

Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality)

Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 – transportation promoters)

32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign Ireland)

Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS
chancery:2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 462-3939
FAX:[1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROONEY
embassy:42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[353] (1) 668-8777
FAX:[353] (1) 668-9946

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange

officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland

orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange)

white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange
note: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

National symbol(s)

harp

National anthem

name: “Amhran na bhFiann” (The Soldier’s Song)
lyrics/music:Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
note:adopted 1926

instead of “Amhran na bhFiann,” the song “Ireland’s Call” is often used in athletic events where citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

Economy

Economy – overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity has dropped sharply since the onset of the world financial crisis, with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008, nearly 8% in 2009, and 1% in 2010. Ireland entered into a recession in 2008 for the first time in more than a decade, with the subsequent collapse of its domestic property and construction markets. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in any other developed economy. Since their 2007 peak, average house prices have fallen 50%. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become a key component of Ireland’s economy. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. In 2008 the COWEN government moved to guarantee all bank deposits, recapitalize the banking system, and establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the country’s economic downturn. In 2009, in continued efforts to stabilize the banking sector, the Irish Government established the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to acquire problem commercial property and development loans from Irish banks. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. In addition to across-the-board cuts in spending, the 2009 budget included wage reductions for all public servants. These measures were not sufficient. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP – the world’s largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP – because of additional government support for the banking sector. In late 2010, the COWEN Government agreed to a $112 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin further increase the capitalization of its banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. The government also initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20 billion from its budget. A return to modest growth is expected in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$172.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $174.2 billion (2009 est.)
$188.4 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$204.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198 -7.6% (2009 est.)
-3.5% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$37,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 $38,000 (2009 est.)
$41,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2%
industry:29%
services:70% (2009 est.)

Labor force

2.14 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 5%
industry:20%
services:76% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141 11.8% (2009)

Population below poverty line

5.5% (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%:27.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

29.3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121 35.9 (1987)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Budget

revenues: $70.74 billion
expenditures:$137 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

34.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-32.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Public debt

94.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 65.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6 -4.5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 118 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.45% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170 4.32% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$131.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 $145.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$245 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35 $283.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$745.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19 $738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$63.1 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 50 $61.7 billion (31 December 2009)
$49.4 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

beef, dairy products, barley, potatoes, wheat

Industries

pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing

medical devices

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity – production

27.28 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity – consumption

26.99 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity – exports

290 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity – imports

756 million kWh (2010 est.)

Oil – production

431 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Oil – consumption

159,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Oil – exports

17,480 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Oil – imports

176,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas – production

388 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas – consumption

5.656 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas – imports

5.261 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas – proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Current account balance

-$1.477 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153 -$6.544 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$110.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 $108.2 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

live animals, animal products

Exports – partners

US 22.1%, UK 16.1%, Belgium 15.1%, Germany 8.1%, France 5.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$61.63 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41 $62.95 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports – partners

UK 37.7%, US 13.8%, Germany 7.6%, Netherlands 5.6%, China 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.115 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 $2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$2.357 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 9 $2.253 trillion (30 September 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$228 billion (31 September 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 $236.2 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$286.2 billion (31 September 2010)
country comparison to the world: 16 $264.6 billion (31 December 2009)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

39 (2010)
country comparison to the world:105

Airports – with paved runways

total: 16
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 23
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:21 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,888 km (2010)

Railways

total: 3,237 km
country comparison to the world: 54 broad gauge:1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge:1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

Roadways

total: 96,036 km
country comparison to the world: 46 paved:96,036 km (includes 896 km of expressways) (2010)

Waterways

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 68

Merchant marine

total: 28
country comparison to the world: 88 by type:cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1
foreign-owned:5 (Norway 3, US 2)
registered in other countries:21 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 7, Panama 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Military

Military branches

Irish Defense Forces (IDF

Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2011)

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service)

enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions

17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF)

maximum obligation 12 years (5 years IDF, 7 years RDF)

EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,179,125
females age 16-49:1,163,728 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 977,631
females age 16-49:965,900 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 28,564
female:27,197 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark’s claim that the Faroe Islands’ continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs

increasing consumption of South American cocaine

minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe

despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering – using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community – remains a concern