April 7, 2016

Volume 1, Issue 1

Government System of Ireland

ire go Brch

Key Players
Micheal D.
Higgins

Current president of
Ireland. Elected in 2011.
Member of the Labour
Party.

Douglas
Hyde

First president of Ireland.

Elected in 1938. All-party
nominated.

Mary
Robinson

First woman president of

Ireland. Elected in 1990.
Nominated by three
different parties.

How it works
The head of the government, known as
the Taoiseach, works together with
ministers of 15 departments to run the
Irish Government.

Background
In 16th century Ireland Tudor monarchs set out to control Ireland. It was at
this time that Henry VIII declared himself King of Ireland. From 1649-1652
Oliver Cromwell stifled an attempted Irish Rebellion while simultaneously
confiscating fertile Irish farming land. Another rebellion was attempted in
1798, after which the Irish Parliament was abolished and the United
Kingdom took Ireland in. It was not until 1914 that Ireland was granted
freedom from the UK by the British Parliament. This bill was postponed
because of World War I. In 1921 the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed, allowing
Ireland to become its own country.

The parliament, also called Oireachtas, is made up of

two Houses: Dail Eireann (House of
Representatives) and Seanad Eireann (Senate).
Elections for these positions happen every five years.
A new president is elected every seven years.

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