Ireland

Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its
east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the
second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the
twentieth-largest on Earth.[6]

Geopolitically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named

Ireland), which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part
of the United Kingdom. In 2011, the population of Ireland was about 6.6 million,
ranking it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain. Just under
4.8 million live in the Republic of Ireland and just over 1.8 million live in Northern
Ireland.[5]

The geography of Ireland comprises relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a

central plain, with several navigable rivers extending inland. Its lush vegetation is a
product of its mild but changeable climate which is free of extremes in temperature.
Much of Ireland was woodland until the end of the Middle Ages. Today, woodland
makes up about 10% of the island, compared with a European average of over
33%,[7] and most of it is non-native conifer plantations.[8][9] There are twenty-six
extant land mammal species native to Ireland.[10] The Irish climate is influenced by
the Atlantic Ocean and thus very moderate,[11] and winters are milder than expected
for such a northerly area, although summers are cooler than those in continental
Europe. Rainfall and cloud cover are abundant.
Location of Ireland (dark green)
in Europe (green & dark grey)
Geography
Location Northwestern Europe

Coordinates 53°25′N 8°0′WCoordinates:

53°25′N 8°0′W
Adjacent bodies of
Atlantic Ocean
water
Area 84,421 km2 (32,595 sq mi)[1]
Area rank 20th[2]
Coastline 2,797 km (1,738 mi)
Highest elevation 1,041 m (3,415 ft)
Highest point Carrauntoohil
Administration
Republic of Ireland
Largest city Dublin (pop. 553,165)
United Kingdom
Country Northern Ireland
Largest city Belfast (pop. 333,000)
Demographics
Demonym Irish
Population 6,572,728 (2016)[a][5]
Population rank 19th
Pop. density 77.8 /km2 (201.5 /sq mi)
Languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots
96.4% White
1.7% Asian
Ethnic groups
1.1% Black
0.8% Other[3][4]
Additional information
Greenwich Mean Time / Western
Time zone
European Time (UTC)
Western European Summer Time[b]
• Summer (DST)
(UTC+1)

Saint Brigit
Patron saints Saint Colmcille
Saint Patrick
Culture in Ireland

The culture of Ireland includes language, literature, music, art, folklore, cuisine, and
sport associated with Ireland and the Irish people. For most of its recorded history,
Irish culture has been primarily Gaelic (see Gaelic Ireland). It has also been
influenced by Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish culture.

PEOPLE

The Irish have their own customs, language, music, dance, sports, cuisine and
mythology. Although Irish (Gaeilge) was their main language in the past, today most
Irish people speak English as their first language. Historically, the Irish nation was
made up of kin groups or clans, and the Irish also had their own religion, law code,
alphabet and style of dress.

Cities
Ireland is also known as the Republic of Ireland , is a country in north-western
Europe occupying 26 of 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest
city is Dublin, which is located on the eastern side of the island.
the realities of living in the far Island of Ireland with its bitterly cold winters and
ethnic communities. Cities along important trade routes, like the Volga, preserve
elements of ancient Ireland

FOOD AND DRINK

Representative traditional Irish dishes include Irish stew (made with lamb, mutton,
or beef), bacon and cabbage (with potatoes), boxty (potato pancake), coddle
(sausage, bacon, and potato), colcannon (mashed potato, kale or cabbage, and
butter), and, in Ulster, the soda farl.
FAMILY LIFE

In many 'traditional' Irish homes, family life and food were closely linked.
Traditionally one parent, normally the mother, would stay at home to rear the family
and look after the domestic duties such as cooking the dinner and baking scones,
cakes and bread for the family

For most Irish, the nuclear family unit plays a major role in their day-to-day lives.
The extended family continues to be an essential part of Irish society. In the past,
extended families would live near one another, but this is becoming less common
today due to the ongoing impacts of urbanisation. Nonetheless, the family remains
fundamentally important to the individual. Indeed, the unique personal relationships
that family members share and the support they receive from one another is highly
valued.

The Irish are encouraged to be independent and self-reliant as they grow up. Children
will live with their parents until they leave to attend university, to move in with their
partner, or once they have become financially independent. In rural areas, children
will usually leave home at around the age of 18 to 19 to attend university or to look
for jobs in larger cities.

Family cohesiveness remains a focal point for many of the Irish. For example, when
study or work takes a relative away from the family to larger cities or abroad, it is
common to find their ties to home still quite strong. Many will make great efforts to
return home periodically, especially for Christmas.

HOLIDAY
These are the public holidays observed in Ireland.[1] Public holidays in Ireland (as in
other countries) may commemorate a special day or other event, such as Saint
Patrick's Day or Christmas Day. On public holidays (sometimes incorrectly referred
to as bank holidays - a colloquialism), most businesses and schools close. Other
services.
Traditions

The culture of Ireland includes language, literature, music, art, folklore, cuisine, and
sport associated with Ireland and the Irish people. For most of its recorded history,
Irish culture has been primarily Gaelic (see Gaelic Ireland). It has also been
influenced by Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish culture.

language
The two principal languages of Ireland are English and Irish. Irish is considered the
official and national language of the Republic of Ireland; Northern Ireland has no
official language. However, English has been the dominant spoken language in both
political areas since the end of the 19th century

Politics in Ireland :
The politics of Russia take place in the framework of the federal semi-presidential
republic of Russia. According to the Constitution of Russia, the President of Russia
is head of state, and of a multi-party system with executive power exercised by the
government, headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President with
the parliament's approval. Legislative power is vested in the two houses of the
Federal Assembly of the Europe Federation, while the President and the government
issue numerous legally binding by-laws.

The President:
The 2018 Irish presidential election took place on Friday, 26 October, between 7.00
a.m. and 10.00 p.m.[2] President Michael D. Higgins, who was elected in 2011, was
seeking re-election.[3] This was the first time since the 1966 election that an
incumbent president faced a contest for a second term. Higgins was re-elected on the
first count with nearly 56% of the vote, becoming the first president since de Valera
to win a second term in a contested election (Patrick Hillery (1983) and Mary
McAleese (2004) had been re-elected unopposed.)[4] He was inaugurated for his
second term on 11 November.
The Government:
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is
headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government. The government is composed
of government ministers, all of whom must be members of the Irish parliament.
The Taoiseach must be nominated and approved by the Dáil Éireann, the lower
house of the Oireachtas, the Irish legislature. Following the nomination of the Dáil,
the President of Ireland appoints the Taoiseach to his role. The President also
appoints members of the government, including the Tánaiste, the deputy head of
government, on nomination of the Taoiseach. The government is dependent upon
the Oireachtas to make primary legislation and as such, the government needs to
command a majority in the Dáil in order to ensure support and confidence for
budgets and government bills to pass. The Government is also known as the cabinet

Parliament

The Parliament of Ireland was the legislature of the Lordship of Ireland, and later
the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1297 until 1800. It was modelled on the Parliament
of England and from 1537 comprised two chambers: the House of Commons and
the House of Lords.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was created in 1949. Before
1974 it was called the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. Along with
the Committee of Ministers, PACE is one of the main statutory bodies
of the Council of Europe. It consists of parliamentary representatives from all
member states of the Council of Europe.

PACE performs advisory functions to promote European unity, protect individual

rights and parliamentary democracy, advance pan-European agreements aimed
at shaping common social and legislative policy standards in member states
and fostering awareness of a European community that transcends cultural and other
differences.
PACE consists of 47 member states: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia (since 1996), San Marino, Serbia,
the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
and the United Kingdom. Canada, Israel and Mexico have observer status. Jordan,
Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and Palestine hold “partner for democracy” status.

There are a total of 324 PACE members and an equal number of their
representatives. They are elected or appointed by national parliaments from their
own ranks. The number of parliamentarians from each country varies from 2 to 18,
depending on the country’s population and whether it belongs to the group of major
financial contributors. The membership of the national delegations must be
proportional to the representation of all major political forces or groups
in the national parliament and meet the requirement of a balanced representation
of men and women.
The Judiciary:

Separation of Powers
 The Constitution of Ireland adopted in 1937, organises the powers of
Government according to the doctrine of the separation of powers. The
legislative powers of the State are assigned to the National Parliament (the
Oireachtas) consisting of a House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) and a
Senate (Seanad Éireann) and the President of Ireland by whom all adopted
Bills are signed into law. The executive power of the State is assigned to a
cabinet government of up to 15 members presided over by a Prime Minister
(or Taoiseach) and the judicial power is assigned to the judiciary who are
required to administer justice in courts established by law, to include the High
Court as a first instance court of general jurisdiction and a Supreme Court as
a court of final appeal, but with provision for the establishment by law of other
courts of local and limited jurisdiction.

 The judiciary is an arm of government and its members are not mere public
servants tasked with the resolution of disputes or the enforcement of laws,
 though that is clearly an important part of what they do. Judicial power is also
available to be exercised (by the Superior Courts) as part of the checks and
balances built into our system of government, such as the right and duty to
examine the validity of any impugned enactment of the Oireachtas, and if it
be found inconsistent with the Constitution, to condemn it in whole or in part;
and the right and duty to interfere with the activities of the executive in order
to protect or secure the constitutional rights of individual litigants where such
rights have been or are being invaded by those activities or where activities of
the executive threaten an invasion of those rights. The High Court’s
Constitutional Adjudication and Judicial Review Jurisdictions

 The Supreme Court’s Advisory Jurisdiction

 Under Article 26 of the Constitution, before signing a Bill adopted by the

Parliament into law, the President of Ireland is entitled, after consulting the
Council of State, to refer to the Supreme Court a question as to whether all or
any of the provisions of the Bill are repugnant to the Constitution. This must
be done within seven days of receipt of the Bill for signature. Upon receipt of
the reference, the Court nominates counsel to argue the case against the Bill
and the Bill is upheld in argument by the Attorney General or by counsel on
her behalf. The judgment of the Supreme Court on the reference is required to
be given within sixty days and is given as the judgment of the Court with no
other opinions, whether assenting or dissenting, being given. Where the Court
holds that a referred Bill or referred provisions of a Bill are incompatible with
the Constitution, the President is required to decline to sign it into law and the
Bill lapses. If the constitutionality of the Bill or of referred provisions is
upheld, it is signed into law and the Act or the relevant provisions become
immune from subsequent challenge.The Supreme Court’s Appellate
Jurisdiction The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in respect of all
appeals from the High Court, including cases where the High Court has
exercised its constitutional adjudication and/or judicial review jurisdictions
Legal system:
Legal System and how it works:
The Republic has a common-law legal system with a written constitution that
provides for a parliamentary democracy based on the British parliamentary system,
albeit with a popularly elected president, a separation of powers, a developed
system of constitutional rights and judicial review of primary legislation.

Government rules and regulations establishing business

The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is

headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government. The government is composed of
government ministers, all of whom must be members of the Irish parliament. The
Taoiseach must be nominated and approved by the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of
the Oireachtas, the Irish legislature. Following the nomination of the Dáil, the
President of Ireland appoints the Taoiseach to his role. The President also appoints
members of the government, including the Tánaiste, the deputy head of government,
on nomination of the Taoiseach. The government is dependent upon the Oireachtas
to make primary legislation and as such, the government needs to command a
majority in the Dáil in order to ensure support and confidence for budgets and
government bills to pass. The Government is also known as the cabinet.

The current Taoiseach is Leo Varadkar who took office on 14 June 2017. He is the
leader of Fine Gael, the party with the highest number of seats in the Dáil. Varadkar's
government is a minority coalition, made up of Fine Gael and independent members.
His Tánaiste is Simon Coveney who took office on 30 November 2017.

Labor/Employment Law
Working Time is regulated by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Under
this act the hours of work are limited to 48 hours per week, subject to certain
exceptions. ... Under this law employees are entitled to 4 working weeks annual
leave (20 days) in any leave year during which they have worked 1,365 hours.
Other important employee rights include: Right to be free from discrimination and
harassment of all types; ... Right to be free from retaliation for filing a claim or
complaint against an employer (these are sometimes called "whistleblower" rights);
and. Right to fair wages for work performed.

Economical system:

IRELANDEconomic Growth
IRELAND'S ECONOMY GREW 8.2% last year, according to newly released
figures from the Central Statistics Officer (CSO). ... Meanwhile, personal
consumption of goods and services, a key measure of domestic economic activity,
grew by 3.4% in 2018. The size of the Irish economy was measured at €324 billion
last year using GDP.
Ireland Economy Data

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Ireland expanded 5.80 percent in the second
quarter of 2019 over the same quarter of the previous year. GDP Annual Growth
Rate in Ireland averaged 5.76 percent from 1996 until 2019, reaching an all time
high of 29.20 percent in the first quarter of 2015 and a record low of -10.40 percent
in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Ireland GDP Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit

GDP Growth Rate 0.70 2.70 23.40 -5.60 percent [+]
GDP Annual Growth Rate 5.80 7.40 29.20 -10.40 percent [+]
GDP 375.90 331.43 375.90 1.94 USD Billion [+]
GDP Constant Prices 84556.00 83983.00 84556.00 22399.00 EUR Million [+]
Gross National Product 61522.00 63277.00 67264.00 21303.00 EUR Million [+]
Gross Fixed Capital Formation 48690.00 17268.00 50855.00 4063.00 EUR Million [+]
GDP per capita 78764.60 74559.30 78764.60 12708.80 USD [+]
GDP per capita PPP 70361.05 66604.43 70361.05 21658.43 USD [+]
 GDP From Agriculture 861.00 828.00 916.00 371.00 EUR Million [+]
GDP From Construction 2212.00 2212.00 2898.00 1114.00 EUR Million [+]
GDP From Manufacturing 28826.00 26988.00 28826.00 5165.00 EUR Million [+]
GDP From Public Administration 7970.00 7811.00 7970.00 4306.00 EUR Million [+]
GDP From Transport 9210.00 9259.00 9288.00 4825.00 EUR Million [+]

Ireland GDP Annual Growth Rate

From 1995 to 2007, Irish economy was growing rapidly averaging 6 percent a year,
benefiting from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment.
However in 2008, as a result of a crash in real estate market, economic activity
dropped sharply and the country entered into a recession for the first time in more
than a decade. After series of economic reforms aiming at reducing budget deficit
and government debt, the GDP started to expand from Q3 of 2010 and after three
quarters of contraction in 2012, it has gained the status of fastest growing economy
in the Euro Area. . This page provides - Ireland GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual
values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
Ireland GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual data, historical chart and calendar of
releases - was last updated on October of 2019.

Ireland trade structure

Exports play an important role in Ireland's economic growth. The country is one of
the largest exporters of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and software-related goods
and services in the world.

A series of significant discoveries of base metal deposits have been made, including
the giant ore deposit at Tara Mine. Zinc-lead ores are also currently mined from two
other underground operations in Lisheen and Galmoy. Ireland now ranks as the
seventh largest producer of zinc concentrates in the world, and the twelfth largest
producer of lead concentrates. The combined output from these mines make Ireland
the largest zinc producer in Europe and the second largest producer of lead

In its Globalization Index 2010 published in January 2011 Ernst and Young with the
Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Ireland second after Hong Kong. The index
ranks 60 countries according to their degree of globalisation relative to their
GDP.[191] While the Irish economy has significant debt problems in 2011, exporting
remains a success.

Ireland imported US$105.9 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2018, up by 28.2% since
2014 and up by 19.2% from 2017 to 2018.

Irish imports represent 0.6% of total global imports which totaled an estimated $17.788 trillion one year
prior in 2017.

From a continental perspective, two-thirds of Ireland’s total imports by value in 2018 were purchased
from fellow European countries. North American trade partners supplied 18.1% of import Ireland’s
import purchases while 9.4% worth originated from Asia. Much smaller percentages of Irish imports
came from Latin America (0.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.5%) then
Oceania (0.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Ireland’s population of 5.1 million people, the country’s total $105.9 billion in 2018 imports
translates to roughly $21,000 in yearly product demand from every person in the European island
country.

Ireland’s Top 10 Imports

In 2018, Irish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of
machinery.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$3.8 billion (up 42.1% from 2017)

2. Computer parts, accessories: $1.3 billion (up 46.8%)
3. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $824.3 million (up 156.1%)
4. Turbo-jets: $457.8 million (down -36.8%)
5. Machinery parts: $307.1 million (up 1.4%)
6. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $290.3 million (up 25.4%)
7. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $237.6 million (up 8.4%)
8. Air or vacuum pumps: $231.3 million (up 38%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $217.4 million (up 17.3%)
10.Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $198.8 million (up
28.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of machinery for making semi-
conductors (up 156.1%), computer parts or accessories (up 46.8%) and computers
including optical readers (up 42.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the
strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Irish
businesses and consumers.

Puma shoes in Ireland

Puma has said it will open fewer shops in Europe than originally intended under
plans to expand in one of its main growth market. The move reflects concerns about
the Ireland economy and its weakening currency.
German sportswear and equipment manufacturer Puma announced Thursday that it
would open just 30 new shops in Ireland next year. The move under sources a
sustainable change to the company’s expansion in the Europe market, which already
in august saw Puma cut its plans for new stores from 150 to 80 per year.
Puma blamed reduced spending by Europe consumers amid an economic crisis for
the decision. In addition, a dramatic decline in the value of the Europe currency over
the past months had eaten into revenues and profits.
Ireland has for decades been one of the most important markets for Puma where it
runs about 1000 stores. Sales and profits had been rising until the Ireland country
Market potential in Russia:
With a vast landmass, extensive natural resources, more than 142 million consumers,
and pressing infrastructure needs, Russia remains a major potential market for U.S.
exporters. Europe is the world’s eleventh largest economy by nominal gross
domestic product (GDP) and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP), as
cited by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the IMF, 2018 GDP
per capita (PPP based) was $29,032. is a high-income country, with an educated,
trained workforce and sophisticated, discerning consumers.

A combination of low oil prices, structural limitations, and sanctions pushed Ireland
into a recession in 2015, with the economy contracting by 4 percent, followed by a
0.6 percent drop in 2016. The Economist estimates that structural weaknesses, low
investment and fiscal tightening will keep GDP growth at about 1-2% a year in the
medium term. In 2017, the real GDP growth rate was 1.5% and according to IMF
estimates, the real GDP growth rate in 2018 was 1.8%. The IMF has forecast 2019
GDP growth at 1.4 percent.

In terms of trade in goods, Russia was the United States’ 36th-largest export market
and the 23rd-largest exporter to the United States in 2018. Russia was the United
States’ 28th-largest trading-partner overall. U.S. exports to Ireland in 2018 were $6.7
billion, a decrease of 5% from 2017 (although U.S. exports of products other than
commercial aircraft actually rose modestly in 2018).

Europe exports to the United States in 2018 were $20.7 billion, an increase of 22%
from 2017. In 2018 Russia’s leading individual trading partners were China, the
Netherlands, Germany, Belarus, Turkey, South Korea, Poland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
and the United States.

In 2018, the latest available data showed that the U.S. direct investment position in
Ireland was $14.8 billion, an increase of 6.5% from 2017. The direct investment
position of Russia in the United States was $3.9 billion, a decrease of 7.1% from
2017. Given the prevalence of third-country trade and investment channels, official
figures for U.S.-Europe trade and investment likely understate U.S. companies’
levels of business with Ireland Many American firms view the Europe market as a
long-term, strategic play given its large population, natural resources, growing
consumer class, and access to a relatively low-cost yet well-skilled labor force.
Russia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in August 2012. In the same
year, Congress also enacted legislation to establish permanent normal trade relations
Ireland s commitment to not raise tariffs on any product above the negotiated rate
meant that U.S. manufacturers and exporters experienced more certain and
predictable access to the Europe market.