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 Ireland: Country overview
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Geography- Full country name: Ireland
- Population: 4.2 million.
- Border countries: Northern Ireland (forms part of the UK).
- Climate: Temperate maritime with mild winters and cool summers.
- Terrain: An island in the North Atlantic with coastal mountains in the west and interior agricultural lowlands, numerous hills and lakes.
- Natural hazards: Storms can result in dangerously high waves on the coastlines.
back to top Living in Ireland- Cost of living: Rental prices have risen recently, particularly in Dublin. A room in a shared flat in Dublin typically costs €500-€600 (£470-£560) a month. Be prepared to pay higher than average prices for food, drink, and clothing.
- Utilities: Utility bills are expensive. An average monthly bill comes to €75 (£70). Natural gas is cheaper than oil, but is only available in certain areas such as Dublin and Cork. Oil costs around €380 (£335) per 1000L.
- Internet domain: .ie
- Health: 45% of the Irish population opt for private health care due to long public hospital waiting lists. The public health care services you are entitled to are determined by your income level and which category of the public health care scheme you fall into. Available vaccinations are influenza, Hepatitis B, pneumococcal and mumps; further information is available from the Health Service Executive Immunisation Ireland website.
- Laws and customs: It is illegal to smoke in places of employment in Ireland - this covers pubs and restaurants. Holding and using a mobile phone whilst driving is banned. Possession of even small quantities of drugs can lead to long terms of imprisonment. Ireland does not recognise civil unions or same-sex marriages, and there is very little provision for unmarried cohabiting couples.
back to top Economy and finance- Currency: euro
- Type of economy: Western, capitalist
- Health of economy: Growth averaged 6% in the period 1995-2007.
- Unemployment rate: 4.6% (2007).
- Main exports: Machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, live animals, animal products.
back to top Culture- People: Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census).
- Major religion: Roman Catholic 87.4% (2006 census).
- History: BBC Timeline: Ireland
- Local etiquette: This is similar to the UK. A guide can be found at Work Etiquette.
back to top Politics- Type of government: Republic, parliamentary democracy.
- Major political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Green Party, Labour Party, Progressive Democrats, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party and The Workers' Party.
back to top Travel adviceFind the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website. back to top More information
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