Ireland

publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial television stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2007)

.ie

1.339 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 36

3.042 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 67

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

2.08 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 54

4.871 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 98

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

1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 118 3% (31 December 2008) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

4.32% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 6.76% (31 December 2008 est.)

-$3.191 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 -$6.762 billion (2009 est.)

$2.131 trillion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 10 $2.356 trillion (31 December 2008)

30.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 108 35.9 (1987)

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland joined 11 other EU nations in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity has dropped sharply since 2008 with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008, nearly 8% in 2009, and 1% in 2010, and further contraction is expectd in 2011. Ireland entered into a recession for the first time in more than a decade with the onset of the world financial crisis and subsequent severe slowdown in its domestic property and construction markets. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's economy, construction most recently fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in any other developed economy. However, average home prices have fallen 50% from the 2007 peak. 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 an effort 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. The budget deficit reached nearly 38% of GDP in 2010 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 recapitalize its banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt, and initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20 billion from its budget.

25.12 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

303 million kWh (2008 est.)

753 million kWh (2008 est.)

26.06 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

$115.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $107.3 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

US 20.52%, Belgium 17.78%, UK 16.31%, Germany 5.66%, France 5.56%, Spain 4.19% (2009)

$204.1 billion (2010 est.)

$174 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $175.1 billion (2009 est.) $189.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (2002 est.)

$37,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $38,200 (2009 est.) $41,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

-0.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 -7.6% (2009 est.) -3.5% (2008 est.)

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

$70.36 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $62.22 billion (2009 est.)

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

UK 35.28%, US 16.87%, Germany 6.76%, Netherlands 5.86%, France 4.76% (2009)

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

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

-1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 -4.5% (2009 est.)

12.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

2.18 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

agriculture: 6% industry: 27% services: 67% (2006 est.)

$29.88 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 50 $49.4 billion (31 December 2008) $144 billion (31 December 2007)

5.112 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

4.723 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

392 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

164,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

22,410 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

192,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

4.2% (2008 est.)

98.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 64.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$257.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $275.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$192.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $180.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$221.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $198.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$745.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$127.7 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 26 $141 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 16 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

13.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 11.8% (2009 est.)

total: 70,273 sq km country comparison to the world: 119 land: 68,883 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

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

1,448 km

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

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

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

53 00 N, 8 00 W

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

NA

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

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

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

Europe

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

NA

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

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

46.8 cu km (2003)

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

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

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

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

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

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: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE was appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%

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

republic, parliamentary democracy

6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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

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

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

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 House of Representatives 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 July 2007 (next to be held probably in early 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2007 (next to be held probably in early 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%, Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, independents 4, Speaker of the Dail 1; note - through dissertions and attrition the makeup of both houses is greatly changed note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

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

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; 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]

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)

18 years of age; universal

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.

males age 16-49: 1,031,985 females age 16-49: 1,030,606 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49: 858,317 females age 16-49: 855,125 (2010 est.)

male: 27,987 female: 26,240 (2010 est.)

Irish Defense Forces (IDF; Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2010)

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

17-25 years of age for male or 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)

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760) 65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2010 est.)

16.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

4.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 73

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

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

5,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 206 male: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

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

total population: 80.07 years country comparison to the world: 26 male: 77.86 years female: 82.41 years (2010 est.)

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

total: 34.5 years male: 34.1 years female: 34.8 years (2010 est.)

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

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

4,622,917 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

1.007% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

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

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

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 (2010 est.)

2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

urban population: 61% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

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

39 (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

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)

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

total: 28 country comparison to the world: 87 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)

gas 1,550 km (2009)

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

total: 3,237 km country comparison to the world: 53 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)

total: 96,036 km country comparison to the world: 48 paved: 96,036 km (includes 423 km of expressways) (2008)

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2008) country comparison to the world: 68