Ireland lt;ref namename>lt;/ref> ( , described as the Republic of Ireland (,lt;/ref> is a sovereign state in northwest Europe It is a parliamentary democracy constitutional republic It occupies approximately five-sixths of the Ireland which was Partition of Ireland into two jurisdictions in 1921.Statutory Rules &am"">.... Read More
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Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
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|conventional_long_name Irelandlt;/small>
|common_name Ireland
|image_flagFlag of Ireland.svg
|image_coatCoat of arms of Ireland.svg
|image_map EU-Ireland.svg
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|national_anthem Spaces|2}}
The Soldiers Song |official_languages Irish language Irish English |demonym Irish people |capital Dublin |latd53 |latm20.65 |latNSN |longd6 |longm16.05 |longEWW |largest_city capital |government_type Constitutional republic lt;br/>Parliamentary system |leader_title1 President of Ireland |leader_name1 Mary McAleese |leader_title2 Taoiseach |leader_name2 Brian Cowen Teachta Dála |legislatureOireachtas |upper_houseSeanad Éireann |lower_houseDáil Éireann |accessionEUdate 1 January 1973 |area_km2 70,273 |area_sq_mi 27,133 policy of military neutrality. This policy has helped the Irish Defence Forces to be successful in their contributions to UN peace-keeping missions since 1960 (in the Congo Crisis and subsequently in Cyprus Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina lt;/ref> Irelands air facilities were used by the U.S. military for the delivery of military personnel involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq through Shannon Airport previously the airport had been used for the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) in 2001, as well as the First Gulf War – Tony Gregory speaking in Dáil Éireann lt;/ref> This is part of a longer history of use of Shannon for controversial military transport, under Irish military policy which, while ostensibly neutral, was biased towards NATO during the Cold War lt;/ref> During the Cuban Missile Crisis Seán Lemass authorised the search of Cuban and Czechoslovak aircraft passing through Shannon and passed the information to the CIA.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1228/1198509920335.html Irish Times, 28 December 2007 p. 1]. During the World War II, although officially neutral, Ireland supplied similar, though more extensive, support for the Allied Forces (see [[Irish neutrality during World War II]]. Since 1999, Ireland has been a member of NATOs Partnership for Peace program.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>
John Daniszewski, 17 April 2005, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ireland17apr17,0,5254747.story Catholicism Losing Ground in Ireland], LA Times
http://www.secularism.org.uk/irishpollshowsparentsnolongerwan.html Irish poll shows parents no longer want to force religion on to children] from secularism.org.uk
Phil Lawler, 17 September 2007, http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum53564 Ireland threatened by secularism, Pope tells new envoy], Catholic World News Many efforts have been made by secular groups to eliminate the rigorous study in the second and sixth classes, to prepare for the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation in Catholic schools. Parents can ask for their children to be excluded from religious study if they wish. However, religious studies as a subject was introduced into the state administered Junior Certificate in 2001; it is not compulsory and deals with aspects of different religions, not focusing on one particular religion. Schools run by religious organisations, but receiving public money and recognition, cannot discriminate against pupils based upon, or lack of, religion. A sanctioned system of preference does exist, where students of a particular religion may be accepted before those who do not share the ethos of the school, in a case where a schools quota has already been reached.
The Soldiers Song |official_languages Irish language Irish English |demonym Irish people |capital Dublin |latd53 |latm20.65 |latNSN |longd6 |longm16.05 |longEWW |largest_city capital |government_type Constitutional republic lt;br/>Parliamentary system |leader_title1 President of Ireland |leader_name1 Mary McAleese |leader_title2 Taoiseach |leader_name2 Brian Cowen Teachta Dála |legislatureOireachtas |upper_houseSeanad Éireann |lower_houseDáil Éireann |accessionEUdate 1 January 1973 |area_km2 70,273 |area_sq_mi 27,133 policy of military neutrality. This policy has helped the Irish Defence Forces to be successful in their contributions to UN peace-keeping missions since 1960 (in the Congo Crisis and subsequently in Cyprus Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina lt;/ref> Irelands air facilities were used by the U.S. military for the delivery of military personnel involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq through Shannon Airport previously the airport had been used for the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) in 2001, as well as the First Gulf War – Tony Gregory speaking in Dáil Éireann lt;/ref> This is part of a longer history of use of Shannon for controversial military transport, under Irish military policy which, while ostensibly neutral, was biased towards NATO during the Cold War lt;/ref> During the Cuban Missile Crisis Seán Lemass authorised the search of Cuban and Czechoslovak aircraft passing through Shannon and passed the information to the CIA.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1228/1198509920335.html Irish Times, 28 December 2007 p. 1]. During the World War II, although officially neutral, Ireland supplied similar, though more extensive, support for the Allied Forces (see [[Irish neutrality during World War II]]. Since 1999, Ireland has been a member of NATOs Partnership for Peace program.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>
Military
File:Irish Army Mowag Piranha.jpg Armoured fighting vehicle at 2006 Easter Military Parade in Dublin.]] Irelands military is organised as the Irish Defence Forces (. The Irish Army is small compared to other armies in the region, but is well equipped, with 8,500 full-time military personnel (9,292 in the reserve army).http://www.military.ie/index.htm The Defence Forces] This is mainly due to Irelands policy of neutral country and its "triple-lock" rules governing participation in conflicts whereby approval must be given by the UN, the Government and the Dáil before any Irish troops are deployed into a conflict zone.lt;/ref> Deployments of Irish soldiers cover United Nations peace-keeping duties, protection of Irelands territorial waters (Irish Naval Service and Aid to Civil Power operations in the state. Over 40,000 Irish servicemen have served in UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The Irish Air Corps is extremely limited in size and capabilities, possessing only seven light attack aircraft, eight attack helicopters, and 14 other auxiliary, patrol, and transport aircraft. The Irish Naval Service is the maritime branch of the military, and also has very limited capabilities. It has eight offshore patrol vessel , and smaller numbers of inflatable boats and training vessels, and has highly trained and armed boarding parties capable of seizing a ship and a special unit of frogman Although the Naval Service has no heavy warships, all Irish vessels have significant firepower. The military includes the Reserve Defence Forces (Irish Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve for non-active reservists. The Irish Army Rangers is a special forces branch which operates under the aegis of the army.Citizenship
Irelands Irish nationality law relate to "the island of Ireland" (incl. islands and seas), thereby extending them to Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom Therefore, anyone born in Northern Ireland who meets the requirements for being an Irish citizen, such as birth on the island of Ireland to an Irish or British citizen parent or a parent who is entitled to live in Northern Ireland or the Republic without restriction on their residency,http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/moving-country/irish-citizenship/irish_citizenship_through_birth_or_descent Irish citizenship through birth or descent] may exercise an entitlement to Irish citizenship, such as an Irish passport.http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/ConsolidationINCA.pdf/Files/ConsolidationINCA.pdf Irish Nationality & Citizenship Acts 1956-2004 (unofficial consolidated version) - pdf format]Geography
Landscape
File:Cliffs of Moher, Clare.jpg on the west coast.]] The country belongs to a British Isles in northwest Europe which include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller islands. The Ireland extends over of which approximately five-sixths belongs to the Republic of Ireland ( and the remainder constitutes Northern Ireland It is bounded to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the northeast by the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland) To the east coast is the Irish Sea which reconnects to the ocean via the southwest with St George's Channel and the Celtic Sea The west coast of Ireland mostly consists of cliffs, hills and low mountains. The highest point in the country is Carrauntoohil at which situated in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountain range. The interior of the country is relatively flat land, traversed by rivers such as the River Shannon and several large lakes or loughs The large central lowlands consist of limestone covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand It is part of the River Shannon watershed, containing large areas of bogland used for peat extraction and production. Ireland also has off-shore deposits of oil and gas.lt;/ref> Main urban areas include Dublin on the east coast, Cork (city) in the south, Limerick in the mid-west, Galway on the west coast, and Waterford City on the south east coast. File:Pasture near Ballyieragh - geograph.org.uk - 15185.jpg ]]Agricultural impact
Agriculture and food is an important industry in Ireland, with about 64% of the total land area used for agriculture.http://www.teagasc.ie/agrifood Agriculture in Ireland] The long history of agriculture production coupled with modern agricultural methods (such as pesticide and fertiliser use) has placed pressure on biodiversity in Ireland. Agriculture is the main factor determining land use patterns in Ireland, leaving limited land to preserve natural habitats (also forestry and urban development to a lesser extent),lt;/ref> in particular for larger wild mammals with greater territorial requirements. With no top predator in Ireland, populations of animals that cannot be controlled by smaller predators (such as the fox) are controlled by annual culling i.e. semi-wild populations of deer. A land of green fields for crop cultivation and cattle rearing limits the space available for the establishment of native wild species. Hedgerows however, traditionally used for maintaining and demarcating land boundaries, act as a refuge for native wild flora. Their ecosystem stretch across the countryside and act as a network of connections to preserve remnants of the ecosystem that once covered the island. Pollution from agricultural activities is one of the principal sources of environmental damage. Runoff of contaminants into streams, rivers and lakes impacts the natural fresh-water ecosystems.lt;/ref> Subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy which supported these agricultural practices and contributed to land-use distortions are undergoing reforms. The CAP still subsidises some potentially destructive agricultural practices, however, recent reforms have introduced environmental requirements. Forest covers about 10% of the country, with most designated for commercial production. Forested areas typically consist of monoculture plantations of non-native species which may result in habitats that are not suitable for supporting a broad range of native species of invertebrate . Remnants of native forest can be found scattered around the country, in particular in the Killarney National Park Natural areas require fencing to prevent over-grazing by deer and sheep that roam over uncultivated areas. This is one of the main factors preventing the natural regeneration of forests across many regions of the country. Seanad Éireann Debate involving Former Minister for Environment Heritage and Local GovernmentClimate
Ireland has a temperate climate oceanic climate with temperatures rarely lower than in winter or higher than in summer.lt;/ref> The Atlantic Ocean is the main force shaping Irelands weather and there is a warming influence due to the Gulf Stream lt;/ref> Temperatures differ from region to region, with the middle and east tending to be more extreme in comparison to other areas. Sunshine duration is highest in the south-east. Irelands rainfall patterns are highest in the winter and lowest during the early months of summer. Determined by the south-westerly Atlantic winds, geographically the northwest, west and southwest of the country receives the most substantial rainfall, with Dublin being the driest region. The far-north and west of Ireland are two of the windiest regions in Europe with substantial potential for wind energy generation.lt;/ref> The highest temperature recorded in Ireland was on 26 June 1887 at Kilkenny Castle in County Kilkenny lt;/ref> while the lowest was on 16 January 1881 at Markree Castle County Sligo lt;/ref>lt;/ref> |dateAugust 2010 }}Economy
History
File:International Financial Services Centre.jpg ] From the 1920s Ireland had high trade barriers such as high tariffs, particularly during the Anglo-Irish Trade War with Britain in the 1930s, and a policy of import substitution. During the 1950s, 400,000 people emigrated from Ireland. It became increasingly clear that economic nationalism was unsustainable. While other European countries enjoyed fast growth, Ireland suffered economic stagnation. The policy changes were drawn together in Economic Development an official paper published in 1958 that advocated free trade foreign investment, productive investment, and growth rather than fiscal restraint as the prime objective of economic management. In the 1970s, the population increased by 15% for the first time since independence. National income increased at an annual rate of about 4%. Employment increased by around 1% per year, but the state sector amounted to a large part of that. Public sector employment was a third of the total workforce by 1980. Budget deficits and public debt increased, leading to the crisis in the 1980s. During the 1980s, underlying economic problems became pronounced. Middle income workers were taxed 60% of their marginal income,lt;/ref> unemployment had risen to 20%, annual overseas emigration reached over 1% of population, and public deficits reached 15% of GDP. In 1987 Fianna Fáil reduced public spending, cut taxes, and promoted competition. Ryanair used Irelands deregulated aviation market and helped European regulators to see benefits of competition in transport markets. Intel invested in 1989 and was followed by a number of technology companies such as Microsoft and Google A consensus exists among all government parties about the sustained economic growth.http://www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg1945.cfm "How Ireland became the Celtic Tiger"], Sean Dorgan, the Chief Executive of IDA. 23 June 2006 The GDP per capita in the OECD prosperity ranking rose from 21st in 1993 to 4th in 2002.lt;/ref> Between 1985 and 2002, private sector jobs increased 59%. The economy shifted from an agriculture to a knowledge economy focusing on services and high-tech industries. Economic growth averaged 10% from 1995 to 2000, and 7% from 2001 to 2004. Industry which accounts for 46% of Gross Domestic Product and about 80% of exports, has replaced agriculture as the countrys leading economic sector. File:DublinPort.jpg ]Exports
Exports play an important role in Irelands economic growth. 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 Mine and Galmoy Mine 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.lt;/ref> Ireland is the worlds most profitable country for US corporations, according to the United States tax journal Tax Notes.lt;/ref> The country is one of the largest exporters of pharmaceuticals and software-related goods and services in the world.lt;/ref> Bord Gáis is responsible for the supply and distribution of natural gas which was first brought ashore in 1976 from the Kinsale Head gas field New sources of supply are expected to come on stream after 2010, including the Corrib gas controversy and potentially the Shannon LNG lt;/ref>Celtic Tiger
The economy benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Since 1987, a key part of economic policy has been Social Partnership which is a corporatism set of voluntary pay pacts between the Government, employers and trade union . The 1995 to 2000 period of high economic growth led many to call the country the Celtic Tiger Charles Emrys Smith article: Ireland, in Wankel, C. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Business in Todays World, California, USA, 2009. GDP growth continued to be relatively robust, with a rate of about 6% in 2001, over 4% in 2004, and 4.7% in 2005. With high growth came high inflation. Prices in Dublin were considerably higher than elsewhere in the country, especially in the property market.– CSO However, property prices are falling following the recent economic recession At the end of July 2008, the annual rate of inflation was at 4.4% (as measured by the Consumer price index or 3.6% (as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices lt;/ref>– Central Statistics Office (Ireland) Retrieved on 2008-08-08. and inflation actually dropped slightly from the previous month. In terms of GDP per capita, Ireland is ranked as one of the wealthiest countries in the OECD and the EU-27, at 4th in the OECD-28 rankings. In terms of GNP per capita, a better measure of national income, Ireland ranks below the OECD average, despite significant growth in recent years, at 10th in the OECD-28 rankings. GDP is significantly greater than GNP (national income) due to the large amount of multinational firms based in Ireland. A study by The Economistfound Ireland to have the best quality of life in the world.– The Economist The positive reports and economic statistics masked several underlying imbalances. The construction sector, which was inherently cyclical in nature, accounted for a significant component of Irelands GDP. A recent downturn in residential property market sentiment has highlighted the over-exposure of the Irish economy to construction, which now presents a threat to economic growth. Despite several successive years of economic growth and significant improvements since 2000, Irelands population is marginally more at risk of poverty than the EU-15 average. Figures show that 6.8% of Irelands population suffer "consistent poverty".CSO, 2004.Currency
File:Euro banknotes.png currency with 11 other European Union member states.]] Before the introduction of the euro banknotes and euro coins in January 2002, Ireland used the Irish pound or punt In January 1999 Ireland was one of eleven European Union member states which launched the European Single Currency, the euro Euro banknotes are issued in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 denominations and share the common design used across Europe, however like other countries in the eurozone Ireland has its own unique design on one face of euro coins.lt;/ref> The government decided on a single national design for all Irish coin denominations, which show a Celtic harp a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the word ÉireRecent developments
Ireland is currently ranked as the worlds third most economically free economy in an index created by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation the Index of Economic Freedom Ireland was the first country in the EU to officially enter a recession as declared by the Central Statistics Office lt;/ref> Ireland now has the second-highest level of household debt in the world (190% of household income).lt;/ref> Irelands credit rating was downgraded to AA- by Standard & Poor's ratings agency in August 2010 due to the cost of supporting the banks, which would weaken the Governments financial flexibility over the medium term.http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0825/economy.html Irelands credit rating downgraded Economic growth has slowed after the construction boom of the last decade. The construction crash and the global recession has impacted Ireland significantly. However, the Irish economy is showing signs of stability. There has been a significant fall in house prices and the cost of living is beginning to stabilise. During the boom, Ireland had developed a reputation as one of the most expensive countries in Europe. The Irish Economy contracted by -1.7% in 2008 and -7.1% in 2009 (4.7% growth in 2007). During the first quarter of 2010, the Irish economy officially exited the recession, following growth of 2.7% in Q1 and 0.3% in Q4 of 2009.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The European Commission is forecasting that the Irish economy will grow by 3% in 2011, which is one of the fastest rates of economic growth Brussels is predicting for any EU member state.http://www.businessandfinance.ie/files/irelandeconomicgrowth.pdf EU Commission analysis]Transport
File:Intercity Heuston.jpg ] The state has three main international airports (Dublin Airport Shannon Airport and Cork Airport that serve a wide variety of European and intercontinental routes with scheduled and chartered flights The national airline is Aer Lingus although low cost airline Ryanair is the largest airline. The route between London and Dublin is the busiest international air route in Europe, with 4.5 million people flying between the two cities in 2006.Seán McCárthaigh, http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/03/31/story437213650.asp Dublin–London busiest air traffic route within EU], Irish Examiner 31 March 2003lt;/ref> Railway services are provided by Iarnród Éireann Dublin is the centre of the network, with two main stations (Dublin Heuston railway station and Dublin Connolly railway station linking to the main towns and cities. The Enterprise (train) service, run jointly with Northern Ireland Railways connects Dublin with Belfast Dublin has a steadily improving public transport network of varying quality including the Dublin Area Rapid Transit Luas Dublin Bus and an expanding rail network. File:Ryanair.b737-200.ei-cnv.bristol.arp.jpg ] The road network is focused on Dublin, and motorways are currently being extended to other major cities as part of the Transport 21 programme, which aims to have a world-class motorway network in place by the end of 2010. By then most of Irelands main cities will be connected to Dublin with motorways or with near-motorway standard roads. Dublin has been the focus of some other major projects, such as the East-Link (Dublin) and West-Link toll-bridges, as well as the Dublin Port Tunnel Major by-pass projects are underway at other cities and towns. The Jack Lynch Tunnel under the River Lee (Ireland) in Cork (city) was a major project outside Dublin, and a fourth crossing at Limerick under the River Shannon (known as the Limerick Tunnel was officially opened to motorists in July 2010.http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0727/limerick.html RTÉ News - Limerick Tunnel opens to motorists] The Motorways in the Republic of Ireland and national routes (national primary road and national secondary road ) are managed by the National Roads Authority The rest of the roads (regional road and Local Roads in Ireland are managed by the local authorities in each of their areas. Regular ferry services operate between Ireland and United Kingdom the Isle of Man and FranceEducation
File:University College Cork - geograph.org.uk - 41771.jpg ] Ireland has three levels of education: primary, secondary and higher education. The education systems are largely under the direction of the government via the Minister for Education and Science (Ireland) Recognised primary and secondary schools must adhere to the curriculum established by authorities that have power to set them. All children must receive compulsory education between the ages of six and fifteen years, and all children up to the age of eighteen must complete the first three years of secondary, including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination.Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 http://193.178.1.79/ZZA22Y2000S17.html (Section 17)] The Leaving Certificate taken after two years of study, is the final examination in the secondary school system. Those intending to pursue higher education normally takes this examination, with access to third-level courses generally depending on results obtained from the best six subjects taken, on a competitive basis.http://www.educationireland.ie/irish-education/secondary-education/leaving-certificate.html Education Ireland - Leaving Certificate] Third-level education awards are conferred by more than 38 Higher Education Institutions including University College Dublin (UCD), University of Dublin (Trinity College), Dublin City University Dublin Institute of Technology Higher Education and Training Awards Council National University of Ireland Cork Institute of Technology Waterford Institute of Technology University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick These are the degree-awarding authorities approved by the Government of Ireland and can grant awards at all academic levels. The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks Irelands education as the 20th best among participating countries in science, being statistically significantly higher than the OECD average.lt;/ref> In 2006, Irish students aged 15 years had the second highest levels of reading literacy in the EU http://www.cso.ie/newsevents/pressrelease_measuringirelandsprogress2008.htm CSO - Measuring Irelands Progress] Primary, secondary and higher (University/College) level education are all free in Ireland for all EU citizens.lt;/ref> There are charges to cover student services and examinations.Healthcare
File:R.C.S.I Disease Research Centre.jpg which is one of the largest general hospitals in the country.]] The Minister for Health and Children (Ireland) has responsibility for setting overall policy with regard to the health service. Every individual resident in Ireland is entitled to receive health care through the public health care system, which is managed by the Health Service Executive and funded by general taxation. A person may be required to pay a subsidised fee for certain health care received; this depends on income, age, illness or disability. All maternity services are provided free of charge and children up to the age of 6 months . Emergency care is provided at a cost of €100 for a visit to the Accident and Emergency department. Anyone holding a European Health Insurance Card are entitled to free maintenance and treatment in public beds in Health Service Executive and voluntary hospitals. Outpatient services are also provided for free. However the majority of patients on median incomes or above, are required to pay subsidised hospital charges. Private health insurance is available to the population for those who want to avail of it. Vhi Healthcare (government owned), Quinn Healthcare and Aviva Group Ireland provide health insurance, among other services.Demographics
File:IrelandPopulationChange.png Genetic research suggests that the first settlers of Ireland came through migrations from Iberian peninsula following the end of the most recent ice age http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id7817 Myths of British ancestry] – Prospect Magazine After the Mesolithic the Neolithic and Bronze Age migrants introduced Celt c culture and languages to Ireland. These later migrants from the Neolithic to Bronze Age still represent a majority of the genetic heritage of Irish people.("Origins of the British", Stephen Oppenheimer, 2006)http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?toolpubmed&pubmedid15309688 The Longue Durée of Genetic Ancestry: Multiple Genetic Marker Systems and Celtic Origins on the Atlantic Facade of Europe] – PUBMED Culture spread throughout the island, and the Gaels tradition became the dominant form in Ireland. Today, Irish people are mainly of Gaels ancestry, and some of Norse, Anglo-Norman, English, Scottish, French and Welsh ancestry. Gaelic culture forms an important part of national identity. In the UK Irish Traveller are a recognised ethnic minority group politically (not ethnically) linked with European Roma and Gypsy groups,lt;/ref> although in Ireland they are classified as a "social group".lt;/ref> Ireland has one of the fastest growing populations in Europe From 2004 to 2006 the growth rate in was above 2%. This is due to falling death rates, rising birth rates and high immigration levels.lt;/ref> Ireland has the youngest population in Europe, with only 11.2% over 65. The country is forecast to have the least proportion of the 65+ age group in Europe until 2035.lt;/ref> Forcasted population growths are the second highest in Europe, with a population projection of 6,057,000 by 2035. These projections may have to be revised due to recent economic challenges. | class"toccolours" align"right" style"float:auto; text-align:center; background:#FFFFFF; color: #000000; font-weight:bold" |- style"background:lavender" ! colspan"2"| Non-Irish Nationals living in Ireland |- style"background:lavender" ! Country of origin !! Populationhttp://www.cso.ie/census/..%5Ccensus%5Cdocuments%5CPROFILES%20OF%20NATIONALITIES%201-5.pdf Census 2006 - Non-Irish Nationals 1-5]http://www.cso.ie/census/..%5Ccensus%5Cdocuments%5CPROFILES%20OF%20NATIONALITIES%206-10.pdf Census 2006 - Non-Irish Nationals 6-10] |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" ! style"text-align:left"| United Kingdom lt;/div> |112,548 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|Poland lt;/div> |63,276 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|Lithuania lt;/div> |24,628 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|Nigeria lt;/div> |16,300 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|Latvia lt;/div> |13,319 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|United States lt;/div> |12,475 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|China lt;/div> |11,161 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|Germany lt;/div> |10,289 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|File:Philippines flag 300.png Philippines lt;/div> |9,548 |- style"background:#f0f0f0;" |style"text-align:left"|France lt;/div> |9,046 |}Population
Irelands population has increased significantly in recent years. Much of this population growth can be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and the return of Irish people (often with their foreign-born children) who emigrated in large numbers in earlier years during periods of high unemployment. In addition the birth rate in Ireland is currently over double the death rate, which is highly unusual among Western European countries.lt;/ref> Approximately 10% of Irelands population is now made up of foreign citizens. *The total population of Ireland on Census Day, 23 April 2006, was 4,234,925, an increase of 317,722, or 8.1% since 2002. *Allowing for births (245,000) and deaths (114,000), the derived net immigration of people between 2002 and 2006 was 186,000. *Ireland has 419,733 foreign citizens. This does not include 1,318 people with Statelessness , and 44,279 people with no stated nationality. *The single largest group of immigrants comes from the United Kingdom followed by Polish minority in Ireland Lithuania and Nigeria *94.8% of the population was recorded as having a White ethnic or cultural background. 1.1% had a Black or Black Irish background, 1.3% had an Asian or Asian Irish background and 1.7% of the populations background was not stated. *The average annual rate of increase, 2%, is the highest on record (1.3% from 1996 to 2002 and 1.5% from 1971 to 1979). *The 2006 population was last exceeded in the 1861 Census when the population then was 4.4 million. *The population of Leinster grew by 8.9%; Munster by 6.5%; and the population decline of the Connacht Ulster lt;ref>Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan only. Remaining Ulster counties are in Northern Ireland region halted. *The ratio of males to females has declined in each of the four provinces between 1979 and 2006. Leinster is the only province where the number of females exceeds the number of males. Males predominate in rural counties such as Cavan County Leitrim and Roscommon while there are more females in cities and urban areas. A detailed breakdown of these figures is available here: See Irish Population Analysis for Irelands population history.Language
English language and Irish language are the official languages. They are compulsory in primary and secondary level schools recognised by the state. Some students may be exempt from the requirement to receive instruction in either language. English is the dominant language throughout the country. People in dominantly Irish-speaking communities, Gaeltacht regions, are limited to the low tens of thousands in isolated areas mostly on the western seaboard. Road signs are usually bilingual, except in Gaeltacht regions.lt;/ref> The legal status of place names has been the subject of controversy, with an order made in 2005 under the Official Languages Act 2003 changing the official name of certain locations from English back to Irish. Dingle had its name changed to An Daingeandespite local opposition and a local plebiscite requesting that the name be changed to a bilingual version: Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis Most public notices and print media are in English language only. Most Government publications are available in both languages, and citizens have the right to deal with the state in Irish. Media in Irish exist on TV (TG4 , radio (e.g. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , and in print (e.g. Foinse . According to the 2006 census, 1,656,790 people (39%) in Ireland regard themselves as competent in Irish; though no figures are available for English-speakers, it is thought to be almost 100%. The Polish language is one of the most widely spoken languages in Ireland after English. There are 63,276 Poles resident in Ireland according to the 2006 census. Central and Eastern European languages, such as Polish, can be heard spoken on a day-to-day basis across Ireland. Other languages spoken in Ireland include Shelta spoken by the Irish Traveller population and a dialect of Ulster Scots language is spoken by some descendants of Ulster-Scots in Ulster Most secondary school students choose one or two foreign languages to learn. Languages available for the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate include French language German language Italian language and Spanish language Leaving Certificate students can also study Arabic language Japanese language and Russian language Some schools also offer Ancient Greek Hebrew language and Latin at second level.Religion
}} Christianity in Ireland is the predominant religion in Ireland, and is dominated by the Catholic Church Irelands constitution states that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion. In 2006, 86.8% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic 1.4% less than 4 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 218,800.lt;/ref> According to a Georgetown University study, the country also has one of the highest rates of regular Mass attendance in the Western World http://cara.georgetown.edu/bulletin/international.htm Weekly Mass Attendance of Catholics in Nations with Large Catholic Populations, 1980-2000] – World Values Survey (WVS) While daily Roman Catholic Mass attendance was 13% in 2006 there had been a reduction in weekly attendance from 81% to 48% between 1990 and 2006, although the decline was reported as leveling offhttp://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum44521 Irish Mass attendance below 50%] – Catholic World News 1 June 2006, and all but two of its major seminaries have closed (St Patricks College, Maynooth and St Malachys College, Belfast). A number of theological colleges continue to educate both ordained and lay people. Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Ireland followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglicanism , declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. The countrys Hinduism in Ireland and Muslim populations have experienced significant growth in recent years, due chiefly to immigration. The very small Judaism community in Ireland also recorded a marginal increase (see History of the Jews in Ireland in the same period. In percentage terms, Orthodoxy and Islam were the fastest growing religions, up by 100% and 70% respectively.lt;/ref> File:Saint Patrick (window).jpg is Irelands most recognised patron saint ]] The patron saints of Ireland are Saint Patrick Brigid of Kildare and Columba Saint Patrick is the only one of the three who is commonly recognised as the patron saint. Saint Patrick's Day March 17, is celebrated in Ireland and abroad as the Irish national day, with parades and other celebrations. The 2006 census recorded 186,318 people (4.4% of the population) who described themselves as having "no religion." An additional 1,515 people described themselves as agnostic and 929 as atheist A further 70,322 (1.7%) did not respond to the question.lt;/ref> Originally, the 1937 Constitution of Ireland gave the Roman Catholic Church a "special position" as the church of the majority, but also recognised other Christian denominations and Judaism. As with other predominantly Catholic European states, the Irish state underwent a period of legal secularisation in the late twentieth century. In 1972, the article of the Constitution naming specific religious groups, was deleted by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland in a referendum. Article 44 still remains in the Constitution: The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion. The article also establishes freedom of religion (for belief, practice, and organisation without interference), prohibits endowment of any religion, prohibits the state from religious discrimination, and requires the state to treat religious and non-religious schools in a non-prejudicial manner. Despite a large number of schools in Ireland being run by religious organisations, a general trend of secularism is occurring within the Irish population, particularly in the younger generations.Among many examples:John Daniszewski, 17 April 2005, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ireland17apr17,0,5254747.story Catholicism Losing Ground in Ireland], LA Times
http://www.secularism.org.uk/irishpollshowsparentsnolongerwan.html Irish poll shows parents no longer want to force religion on to children] from secularism.org.uk
Phil Lawler, 17 September 2007, http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum53564 Ireland threatened by secularism, Pope tells new envoy], Catholic World News Many efforts have been made by secular groups to eliminate the rigorous study in the second and sixth classes, to prepare for the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation in Catholic schools. Parents can ask for their children to be excluded from religious study if they wish. However, religious studies as a subject was introduced into the state administered Junior Certificate in 2001; it is not compulsory and deals with aspects of different religions, not focusing on one particular religion. Schools run by religious organisations, but receiving public money and recognition, cannot discriminate against pupils based upon, or lack of, religion. A sanctioned system of preference does exist, where students of a particular religion may be accepted before those who do not share the ethos of the school, in a case where a schools quota has already been reached.
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