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Contents the Irish State 7 the Economy

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Contents the Irish State 7 the Economy CONTENTS This booklet provides a general overview of Ireland’s political, economic and cultural life.While it is not possible to include every aspect of life in Ireland in this short publication we hope that you will discover a little about Ireland and its people. THE IRISH STATE 7 Name of State . 7 Island of Ireland . 7 Language . 7 Flag . 7 Emblem . 7 Anthem . 7 The National Day . 8 Government . 8 Political Parties . 10 Local Government . , , , . 12 The Courts . , , , , . 13 Police and Defence Forces . , , , , . 14 HISTORY 17 Gaelic Ireland . 18 Eighteenth Century . 19 Towards Independence . 21 ENVIRONMENT 25 Climate . 26 Flora and Fauna . 26 Population . 29 THE ECONOMY 31 Public Finances . 32 National Development Plan . 32 Population, Labour Force and Employment . 33 EU Membership . 33 Ireland and the Euro . 33 Monetary Policy . 33 THE ECONOMY 31 Inward Investment . 34 Outward Investment . 34 Education and Training . 34 Innovation and R&D . 35 Corporation Tax . 35 E-Commerce and the New Economy . 35 State-sponsored Bodies . 36 Exports . 36 Imports . 36 General Government Balance. 37 Industry . 37 Foreign Direct Investment . 39 Irish Enterprise Sector . 39 Finance . 40 Services . 40 Industrial Relations . 41 Agriculture . 41 Fishing . 42 Tourism . 44 Transport . 45 Energy . 46 Mining/Quarrying . 48 Telecommunications . 48 Newspapers . 50 Radio and Television . 51 SOCIAL SERVICES 53 Education . 53 First-level (Primary) Education . 53 Ssecond-level (Post Primary) Education . 53 Third-level Education . 54 Fourth-level Education . 55 Health Services . 57 Social Welfare . 59 NORTHERN IRELAND 61 Historical Background . 61 The search for a political settlement: 1980s and 1990s . 62 Multi-Party Talks 1996 . 64 The Good Friday Agreement 1998 . 65 The Good Friday Agreement — Template for Peace . , , . 67 Rebuilding confidence and restoring momentum. 68 Restoration of the institutions . 70 All-Ireland Partnership & Co-operation . 71 British-Irish Relations and the peace process. 72 International Support for the Peace Process . 72 Representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly, British and European Parliaments and Local Government . 73 Population . 75 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 79 Foreign Policy . 79 United Nations . 79 European Union Membership . 80 EU Common Foreign and Security Policy . 80 Irish Aid . 85 The Irish Abroad . 87 ARTS AND CULTURE 91 Ireland’s Culture. 91 The Irish Language . 92 Literature in Irish . 93 Literature in English . 94 Art. 98 Architecture . 99 Music . 102 Film . 104 Sport . 105 CREDITS 109 INDEX OF USEFUL WEBSITES 111 Constitution National Flag Official Emblem 7 THE IRISH STATE Name of State The Irish Constitution provides that the name of the State is Éire or in the English language, Ireland.The Republic of Ireland Act of 1948 provides for the description of the State as the Republic of Ireland but this provision has not changed the use of ‘Ireland’ as the name of the State in the English language. Island of Ireland The geographical island of Ireland contains two separate legal jurisdictions comprising the sovereign independent state of Ireland comprising 26 counties located to the south, east, west and north- west of the island, while Northern Ireland comprises the remaining six counties to the north-east of the island, under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. Language Article 8 of the Irish Constitution makes the following affirmation: 1 The.
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