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 |
|
Capital city > Geographic coordinates
|
53 19 N, 6 14 W |
|
|
Constitution
adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937 |
|
Corruption
|
7.4 |
|
[19th of 160]
|
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
use embassy street address |
Executive branch > Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives |
Executive branch > Chief of state
President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) |
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; 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 |
Government type
republic, parliamentary democracy |
Independence
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty) |
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet) |
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 |
Legislative branch
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; to 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) |
|
Parliamentary seats > Female
|
12% |
|
[50th of 143]
|
Political parties and leaders
Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY, acting leader]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND] |
Status
democracy |
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal |
|
Time required to start a business > days
|
19 days
|
|
[137th of 171]
|
|
Trademarks, residents
|
1,285
|
|
[33rd of 98]
|
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm |
del.icio.us
Feeds |
Contact