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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
Administrative divisions > A note Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Administrative divisions > Note Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Ambassadors from Finland > Current Finnish Ambassadors > Ambassador	Seppo Kauppila
Ambassadors from Israel > Current Israeli Ambassadors > Israeli Ambassador	Zion Evroni
ambassadors to the United States > Ambassador	Noel Fahey
Capital city	Dublin
Capital city > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	53 19 N, 6 14 W
Capital city > Name	Dublin
Capital city > Time difference UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Copyright > Reference	s. 24,
Corruption	7.4		[19th of 160]
Council of EU, 2001 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2001 > Country votes	3		[14th of 15]
Council of EU, 2001 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, 2002 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2002 > Country votes	3		[14th of 15]
Council of EU, 2002 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, 2003 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2003 > Country votes	3		[14th of 15]
Council of EU, 2003 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, 2005 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2005 > Country votes	7		[17th of 25]
Council of EU, 2005 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, 2006 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2006 > Country votes	7		[17th of 25]
Council of EU, 2006 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, 2007 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, 2007 > Country votes	7		[18th of 27]
Council of EU, 2007 > European party of leader AEN
Council of EU, January–April 2004 > Country leader	Bertie Ahern
Council of EU, January–April 2004 > Country votes	3		[14th of 15]
Council of EU, January–April 2004 > European party of leader AEN
countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection	70 pma
date of transition to republican system of government > Republic since	January 1, 1946
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[353] (1) 668-9946
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address use embassy street address
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[353] (1) 668-8777
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Michael COLLINS
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 232-5993
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 462-3939
Elections > Head of state	Direct election
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Address	130 Albert St, Suite 1105
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Neighbourhood Downtown
European Council > Current composition of the European Council > Title	Taoiseach
European Parliament constituency > Comparison with member states without constituencies > per Seat	300k
European Parliament constituency > Comparison with member states without constituencies > Seats	13		[19th of 25]
Executive branch > A note government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats
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)
Executive branch > Election results Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
Executive branch > Elections president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)
Executive branch > Note government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats, and independent members of Parliament
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
Flag modification	29		[19th of 197]
foreign consulates in Edinburgh, Scotland > Consulate Address	16 Randolph Crescent
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	January 27, 1995
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	August 19, 1999
General government final consumption expenditure > annual % growth	1.87 %		[83rd of 147]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$	16,577,670,000 constant 2000 US$		[34th of 145]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$ (per capita)	4,074.689 constant 2000 US$ per c		[19th of 146]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant LCU	17993400000
General government final consumption expenditure > current LCU	23266900000
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$	28,888,630,000 $		[31st of 169]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per $ GDP)	0.157 $ per $1 of GDP		[78th of 184]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per capita)	7,100.648 $ per capita		[11th of 184]
Government type republic, parliamentary democracy
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom	David Reddaway
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom > Resident Heads of Missions > Type	Embassy
How Democratic Is the American Constitution? > International comparisons > Electoral system	PR (STV)
How Democratic Is the American Constitution? > International comparisons > Party system	Multi
How Democratic Is the American Constitution? > International comparisons > Strongly bicameral?	No
How Democratic Is the American Constitution? > International comparisons > Structure	Parliamentary
Independence 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Independence Day > Date	December 6
International organization participation ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, 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, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
Key ministers > Defence	Will O'Dea (Fianna Fail)
Key ministers > Finance	Brian Cowen (Fianna Fail)
Key ministers > Foreign affairs Dermot Ahern (Fianna Fail)
Key ministers > Transport Martin Cullen (Fianna Fail)
Kuala Lumpur embassies > Neighborhood	Taman U-Thant
Legal origin English
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
Legal systems > Common law base based on Irish law prior to 1920, which was itself based on English common law
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)
Legislative branch > 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, other 5
Legislative branch > Elections Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held by July 2012); House of Representatives - last held 24 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
Management time dealing with officials > % of management time	2.33 %		[33rd of 38]
National holiday Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Parliamentary seats > Female	12%		[50th of 143]
Parties in the Council of the European Union > leaders > European > party AEN
Parties in the Council of the European Union > leaders > Leader	Bertie Ahern
Parties in the Council of the European Union > leaders > Votes	7		[18th of 27]
Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint	5.6 %		[35th of 38]
political parties > Multi party	•
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders 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); Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters); 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)
Prime minister	Bertie Ahern
Procedures to build a warehouse > number	10		[158th of 168]
Procedures to build a warehouse > number (per capita)	2.404 per 1 million people		[84th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number	18		[164th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number (per capita)	4.328 per 1 million people		[84th of 171]
Procedures to register property > number	5		[115th of 167]
Procedures to register property > number (per capita)	1,202.183 per 1 billion people		[60th of 167]
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament > %	13.3 %		[93rd of 174]
Stabilisation and Association process > Croatia	6.5.2002
Stabilisation and Association process > Stabilisation and Association process > Republic of > Macedonia	6.5.2002
Start-up procedures to register a business > number	4		[160th of 171]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number (per capita)	0.962 per 1 million people		[94th of 171]
Status democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to build a warehouse > days	181 days		[90th of 168]
Time required to enforce a contract > days	217 days		[157th of 171]
Time required to register property > days	38 days		[103rd of 167]
Time required to start a business > days	19 days		[137th of 171]
Time to prepare and pay taxes > hours	76 hours		[160th of 169]
Time to resolve insolvency > years	0.4 years		[151st of 151]
Total businesses registered > number	148,759		[39th of 71]
Total businesses registered > number (per capita)	37.23 per 1 million people		[34th of 83]
Trademarks, nonresidents	1,142		[30th of 99]
Trademarks, nonresidents (per capita)	0.286 per 1 million people		[25th of 146]
Trademarks, residents	1,285		[33rd of 98]
Trademarks, residents (per capita)	0.322 per 1 million people		[41st of 142]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
UN membership date	14 Dec. 1955
United Nations mission http://www.irlgov.ie/ http://www.un.int/ireland/
Washington, D.C. embassies > Neighborhood	Embassy Row

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