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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 44 usable: 42 with permanent-surface runways: 14 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 7

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 92,294 km paved: 87,422 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 4,872 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

limited for commercial traffic

Merchant marine [time series]

53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 139,278 GRT/173,325 DWT, bulk 4, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 3

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 225 km

Ports [time series]

Cork, Dublin, Waterford

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge, government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Affiliation [time series]

(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% of GDP (1993)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 914,052; fit for military service 739,288; reach military age (17) annually 33,809 (1994 est.)

Note [time series]

The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty.

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 8% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; principal crops - turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables

Budget [time series]

revenues: $16 billion expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence

Economic aid [time series]

donor: ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 5,000,000 kW production: 14.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,120 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6978 (January 1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals, animal products partners: EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$17.6 billion (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands

Imports [time series]

$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing partners: EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 11.5% (1992); accounts for 37% of GDP

Industries [time series]

food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.7% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $46.3 billion (1993)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$13,100 (1993)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (1993)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Since 1987, real GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.

Unemployment rate [time series]

16% (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 70,280 sq km land area: 68,890 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,448 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total 360 km, UK 360 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 14% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 71% forest and woodland: 5% other: 10%

Location [time series]

Western Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from Great Britain

Map references [time series]

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Dublin

Constitution [time series]

29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebecite

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2% head of government: Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[353] (1) 6689946

Flag [time series]

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the 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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives (Dail Eireann)) [time series]

elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5

Independence [time series]

6 December 1921 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland

National holiday [time series]

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY note: Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and the Labor Party

Legislative branch (Senate (Seanad Eireann)) [time series]

elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6687122

People

Birth rate [time series]

14.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.59 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Celtic, English

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.37 million by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.68 years male: 72.85 years female: 78.68 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.) total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

3,539,296 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.3% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)