Europe

Ireland
Last reviewed: 27 February 2012

Country information

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Map of Ireland

Area: 70,282 sq. km (27,000 sq. miles)
Population: 4.58 million (Census 2011)
Capital City: Dublin (population: 1.2 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. Enda Kenny was elected as Taoiseach at the head of aFine Gael/Labour coalition government on 9 March 2011 by a margin of 117 votes to 27 in the Dáil.

Major political parties (number of TDs elected at 2011 General Election out of 166 seats): Fine Gael (76); Labour (37); Fianna Fáil (20); Independents (15); Sinn Féin (14); Green Party (0); Socialist Party (2); People Before Profit Alliance (2).

President: Michael D Higgins (since 11 November 2011)
Taoiseach/Prime Minister: Enda Kenny (since 9 March 2011)
Tanaiste (DPM) & Foreign Minister: Eamon Gilmore (since 9 March 2011)
Europe Minister: Lucinda Creighton (since 9 March 2011)
Full Cabinet:

Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Eamon Gilmore (Labour Party Leader)
Minister for Finance: Michael Noonan (Fine Gael)
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Richard Bruton (Fine Gael)
Minister for Health: Dr James Reilly (Fine Gael)
Minister for Social Protection: Joan Burton (Labour)
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: Brendan Howlin (Labour)
Minister for Education and Skills: Ruairi Quinn (Labour)
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pat Rabbitte (Labour)
Minister for Children: Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence: Alan Shatter (Fine Gael)
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: Phil Hogan (Fine Gael)
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael)
Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food: Simon Coveney (Fine Gael)
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs: Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael)
Super Junior” Minister at Environment with responsibility for Housing and Planning: Willie Penrose (Labour) (seat at Cabinet but no vote).

DID YOU KNOW?

The value of two way trade of goods and services between the UK and Ireland in 2009 was a third more than our two way trade with China ).
Ireland is the UK’s top export market for Food and Drink, and Clothing and Textiles.