Ireland

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

22 (2000)

Internet country code

.ie

Internet users

1.31 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

2.55 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.6 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations

4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

1.82 million (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $34 billion expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

Currency

euro (EUR); Irish pound (IEP) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR; IEP

Debt - external

$11 billion (1998) (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36 (1987)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $283 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 8% in 1995-2002. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 45% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations. The economy felt the impact of the global economic slowdown in 2001-02, particularly in the high-tech export sector; the growth rate was cut by half.

Electricity - consumption

20.823 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

71 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

169 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

22.285 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 95% hydro: 4% other: 1% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Irish pounds per US dollar - 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997)

Exports

$85.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 62.8% (UK 19.8%, Germany 11.3%, France 7.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, Belgium 4.8%), US 17.1% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $111.3 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $28,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 27% (1997)

Imports

$48.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

EU 61.4% (UK 33.4%, Germany 5.9%, France 4.5%, Netherlands 3.5%), US 16.2%, Japan 4% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2002 est.)

Industries

food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal; software

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.6% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.8 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

services 64%, industry 28%, agriculture 8% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

10% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.7% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 70,280 sq km water: 1,390 sq km land: 68,890 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,448 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

53 00 N, 8 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Land use

arable land: 19.49% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 80.47% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

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 note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province

Capital

Dublin

Constitution

29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. EGAN embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 668-7122/668-8777 FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6% note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November 2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president

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

Independence

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

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 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 are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14 elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held NA July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABBITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Tom FRENCH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Celtic tribes settled on the island in the 4th century 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 United Kingdom. In 1948 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, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is currently being implemented.

Military branches

Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$700 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY00/01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,013,739 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 816,744 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 32,287 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.3% (male 425,366; female 403,268) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,307,469; female 1,305,038) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 191,927; female 250,091) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

14.62 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

Celtic, English

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,200 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.17 years female: 80.12 years (2002 est.) male: 74.41 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% (1981 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

4.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

3,883,159 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.07% (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

disputes with Iceland, Denmark, and the UK over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe

Airports

41 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

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: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 17 (2002)

Highways

total: 92,500 km paved: 87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,457 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 110,741 GRT/127,342 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 2 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, container 1, short-sea passenger 1

Pipelines

natural gas 7,592 km (transmission 1,158 km; distribution 6,434 km) (2000)

Ports and harbors

Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford

Railways

total: 3,314 km broad gauge: 1,949 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km double-tracked) narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briqueting plants) (2001)

Waterways

700 km (limited facilities for commercial traffic) (1998)