|
|
|
|
|
|
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 1948 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, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.
|
|
|
|
Common Name: Ireland
|
Local Official Name: Ireland
|
|
Abbreviated Name: Ireland
|
Official Name: Ireland
|
|
Official Script Name: Ireland
|
Local Common Name: Ireland
|
|
Former Name: Ireland
|
Territory of: NA
|
|
|
Head of State: President Mary MCALEESE
|
Government Type: republic, parliamentary democracy
|
Independence: 1921 December 6 (from UK by treaty)
|
Constitution: 1937 December 29 (adopted 1937 July 1 by plebiscite)
|
National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
|
International Organization Participation: AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
|
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
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
|
Dependent Areas: NA
|
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
|
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats
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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents and other 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, other 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Sinn Fein 5, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, other 14
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
|
Party Leaders: Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
|
International Disputes: 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; 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location of Ireland: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
|
|
Continent: Europe
|
Land Area Total: 70,280 sq km
|
|
Region: Western Europe |
Land Area Land: 68,890 sq km
|
|
Capitol City: Dublin
|
Land Area Water: 1,390 sq km
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude: 053 00 N
|
Border Boundary Land: 360 km
|
|
Longitude: 008 00 W
|
Border Boundary Coastline: 1,448 km
|
|
|
|
Arable Land: 16.82 %
|
Pastures: 0.00 %
|
|
Crops: 0.03 %
|
Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Highest Elevation: 1,041 m
|
Location: Carrauntoohil
|
|
Lowest Elevation: 0 m
|
Location: Atlantic Ocean
|
|
|
|
Largest City in Ireland: Dublin
|
Dublin Largest City Population: 977,000
|
|
|
Threatened Species: 17
|
Environmental Issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
|
Environmental 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
|
Irrigated Land: 0
|
Bordering Countries: UK 360 km
|
Natural Resources: natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
|
Geographical Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
|
Comparative Area of Ireland: slightly larger than West Virginia
|
Ireland's Geography: 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
|
Natural Hazards: NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic Overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. 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. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.
|
|
|
|
GDP: $165,100,000,000 USD
|
Currency: euro
|
|
GDP per Capita: $41,100 USD
|
Currency Code: EUR
|
|
GDP Growth Rate: 5.50 %
|
|
|
|
Currency Exchange Rate History: euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
|
|
|
|
GDP of Agriculture: 5.00 %
|
GDP of Industry: 46.00 %
|
|
GDP of Services: 49.00 % |
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rate: 2.40 % |
Population in Poverty: 10.00 %
|
|
Unemployment Rate: 4.30 %
|
Tourism: 6,403,000.00 visitors each year
|
|
|
|
Consumption by lowest 10%: 2.00 %
|
Budget Revenue in USD: $70,460,000,000 USD
|
|
Consumption by upper 10%: 27.30 %
|
Budget Expenditures in USD: $69,400,000,000 USD
|
|
|
|
Electricity Production: 23,410,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
|
|
Electricity Consumption: 22,970,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Imports: 1,200,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Production by Source:
|
|
|
Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 94.86%
|
Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
Hydro Electricity Production: 3.77%
|
Other Electricity Production: 1.37%
|
|
|
|
Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Production: 675,000,000 cu m
|
|
Oil Consumption: 175,600 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Consumption: 4,298,000,000 cu m
|
|
Oil Exports: 27,450 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Imports: 178,600 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Imports: 3,384,000,000 cu m
|
|
Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
|
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 19,820,000,000 cu m
|
|
|
|
External Debt: $1,049,000,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Donated in economic aid: $607,000,000 USD
|
|
|
Agricultural Products: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
|
Primary 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 refurbish
|
Industrial Growth Rate: 3.00 %
|
|
|
Import Amount in USD: $65,470,000,000 USD - data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
|
Import Partners: UK 37%, US 13.8%, Germany 9.2%, Netherlands 4.5%
|
Export Amount in USD: $102,000,000,000 USD - machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
|
Export Partners: US 18.7%, UK 17.4%, Belgium 15.2%, Germany 7.4%, France 6.4%, Netherlands 4.8%
|
|
|
GINI Index: 35.90%
|
Labor Force Number of People: 2,030,000
|
Labor Force by Occupations: services 64%, industry 28%, agriculture 8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations: 115 |
Number of People with Radios: 2,550,000 |
|
Television Broadcast Stations: 4 |
Number of People with Televisions: 1,820,000 |
|
Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 2,033,000,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 4,210,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Service Providers: 238,706 |
Internet Users: 2,060,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Country Code: .ie |
Newspapers: 150 |
|
Two Letter Country Code: EI |
Weights and Measures: |
|
Phone Country Code: 353 |
Electricity Voltage: 230 Volts |
|
|
Telephone Systems: general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highways: 95,736 km |
Railways: 3,312 km
|
|
Gas And Oil Pipelines: 1,795 km |
Waterways: 753 km
|
|
Airports: 15 |
Heliports: 0
|
|
|
|
Motor Vehicles: 399 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 40,019,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Per capita CO2 emissions: 10.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Merchant Marines: total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 103,589 GRT/145,044 DWT
by type: cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Germany 2, US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Cyprus 3, Gibraltar 1, Netherlands 10, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, UK 1)
|
Ports and Harbors: Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population: 4,062,235 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 14.45 births per 1,000 people |
|
Population Density: 56.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.82 deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Population Growth: 1.15% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.86 babies born per woman |
|
|
|
Population Male 0-14: 437,903 |
Population Female 0-14: 409,774 |
|
Population Male 15-64: 1,373,771 |
Population Female 15-64: 1,370,452 |
|
Population Male 65+: 207,859 |
Population Female 65+: 262,476 |
|
|
|
Population 0-14: 20.90% |
Literacy Rate: 99.00% |
|
Population 15-64: 67.60% |
Literacy rate of Males: 99.00% |
|
Population 65+: 11.60% |
Literacy rate of Females: 99.00% |
|
|
|
Population that is Male: 49.50
% |
Population that is Female: 50.50% |
|
Life expectancy at birth in years: 77.73 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 5.31 Babies die per 1,000 births |
|
Life expectancy at birth for Males: 75.11 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 80.52 years |
|
|
|
Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
|
Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 2,800
|
|
|
Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
|
|
Disease Risk:
|
Diseases:
|
Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 4.87
|
Nationality: IRISH
|
Ethnic Groups: Celtic, English
|
|
|
Primary Language: English
|
Other Languages: English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
|
|
|
Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
|
Other Religions: Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Branches: Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 17 years
|
Manpower Available: 1,955,560 People
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 1,628,749 People
|
Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 57,466 People per year
|
Expenditures: $700,000,000 USD per year
|
Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.90
|
|
|
|
Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
Ireland Spa and Resort Directory
|
Ireland Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
|
Ireland Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
|
