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Ireland
Last reviewed: 18 June 2009

Country information

Area: 70,282 sq. km (27,000 sq. miles)
Population: 4.2 million (Census 2006)
Capital City: Dublin (population: 1 million)
Languages: Irish is the first official language, although English, the second official language is almost universally used.
Religions: Roman Catholic 86.8%, Church of Ireland (Anglican) 3%, Presbyterian 0.6%, Methodist 0.3%; Jewish 0.05%; Other 3.3%;  No religion 4.4%; Not stated 1.7% (Census 2006)
Currency: Euro
Government: The 1937 Constitution makes provision for a President, elected by the population every 7 years; a Dáil (pronounced 'doyle') or lower house of Parliament, with 166 members (TDs); and a Seanad (pronounced 'shannad') or upper house with 60 members. The Government consists of a cabinet led by the Taoiseach (pronounced 'tee-shock') i.e. Prime Minister. Parliamentary elections are held every five years, or less if the President dissolves Parliament on the advice of the Taoiseach before its full term. The present government was formed in June 2007 after Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fáil (FF) party won enough seats in the General Election to form a coalition government with the Greens, the Progressive Democrats and some Independents. Following Bertie Ahern’s resignation on 6 May 2008, Brian Cowen (FF) became Taoiseach following a confirmation vote in Parliament.
Major political parties (number of TDs elected at 2007 General Election): Fianna Fáil (77); Fine Gael (51); Labour (20); Progressive Democrats (2); Green Party (6); Sinn Fein (4); Independents (5)Head of State: President Mary McAleese (since 1997 - started second term on 11 November 2004)
Taoiseach/Prime Minister: Brian Cowan (since 7 May 2008)
Foreign Minister: Michael Martin (since 7 May 2008)
Europe Minister: Dick Roche (since June 2007, previously held same position 2002-2004 – including during the most recent Irish Presidency of the EU)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: European Union (EU); United Nations (UN); Council of Europe (COE); Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); World Trade Organisation (WTO); International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, also known as the World Bank); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Partnership for Peace (PfP).

DID YOU KNOW?

• Every man, woman and child in Ireland spends an average of £3,422 per year on British goods, the highest per capita spend on British products in the world.
• Every year the UK imports Irish dairy products worth over £254 million

Country information

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Travel advice: Ireland 

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See Also

Useful Links

• BBC Timeline of Ireland
• British Irish Inter Parliamentary Body
• Irish Government website
• Irish EU Presidency website
• Northern Ireland Office 
• UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Ireland
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