Ireland’s economy has been in deficit over the past nine years. The highest ever deficit was recorded in 2008, as a result of the recession, which entered in 2007, and due to increasing competition in the EU market, resulting in a fall in exports, especially from industrial sector.

(Source: articlebase.com, rte.ie)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

GDP of Ireland was EUR 41,269 million in Q3 of 2010, decreasing 0.55% from Q3 of 2009. The agricultural and industrial sectors reported a growth while, transport, communications, public administration, defence and other sectors showed a slight decline.  

(Source: CSO)

Gross National Product (GNP)

In Q3 of 2010, GNP of the country was EUR 33,507 million, declining1.6% from Q3 of 2009.

(Source: CSO)

Income tax rate

As compared to 2010, income slabs for 2011 have been lowered by EUR 3,600 for all categories of personal taxes. 

(Source: Irish Cash and Customs)

Inflation rate

In 2010, the estimated annual average inflation rate was -1.1%*. Rates for housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels rose 9.2% during the year.  However, the education sector showed a major fall of 3.0%. Annual inflation rate was reported at -1.1% for overall goods and 2.0% for overall services.

(Source: CSO)

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

The country had a considerable increase in its FDI during 2009, when total investment inflow reached EU 169,328 due to an increase in investment from Netherlands, UK, France, Italy and Belgium. Similarly, investments were flowed outside too, mostly to the Netherlands. 

(Source: Irish Statistical Portal)

Central bank assets

The assets of the Central bank of Ireland are displayed in the table below:

(Source: centralbank.ie)

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Ireland’s CPI was recorded at 101.7 points, rising 0.6% compared to the previous year. Consumer prices increased for housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels, communications, and miscellaneous goods & services.  However,  there was a decrease in clothing & footwear, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and education.

Labour Force

 As of June 2010, Ireland had a total work force of 2,152,700 people. Of the total labour force, the total number of employed people stood at 1,859,500, hence the unemployment rate was reported at 13.64%. The country’s employment decreased by 4.08% compared to the previous year. Employment was highest in wholesale & retail trading and light weight automobile repair (269,100); followed by industrial (240,100); human health & social work (234,900); education (149,800); construction (125,300); accommodation & food service (119,800); public administration, defence & social security (107,800); finance, insurance & real estate (103,200); professional, scientific & technical (100,900); and others (408,100).

 (Source: CSO)

 (Source: CSO)

Minimum wage

Minimum wage rate for experienced adult worker is EUR 8.65 an hour and for every adult worker in first year of his/her job is EUR 6.92  an hour. Employees in training are eligible for minimum wage of EUR 4.49 per hour.

(Source: Citizens Information Board)

Level of unionization

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is the representative organisation for about 55 trade unions in Ireland. As of 2008, the 55 trade unions had 833,486 members, of which 231,451 were in Northern Ireland.

(Source: ictu.ie)

(Source: Constitution of Ireland, Houses of the Oireachtas)

Corruption perception

The country is ranked 14^th in the World’s Corruption Perception Index 2010. Its index score is 8.0 (out of 10), reflecting low levels of corruption.

(Source: transperancy.org)

Freedom of information

Citizens have the right to access any stored information by government departments and other public bodies. The Government maintains the Freedom of Information Act to ensure that people have legal rights to view and use recorded information.

Ireland is ranked 10^th on the Press Freedom Index 2010. It shows that government has minimum restrictions on the press. Although, it controls some media to avoid broadcasting related to violence and its support.

Major national newspapers include:

• The Irish Times
• Irish Independent
• Irish Examiner

(Source: FOI, Rsf.org, BBC)

Regulatory environment in Ireland

Ireland is ranked 7^th in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Its economic freedom score is 78.7 (out of 100), decreasing 2.6 points from the previous year, due to lower scores for government spending and financial freedom. In the European region, Ireland was ranked second behind Switzerland.

(Source: Heritage.org)

 Judicial system

Judicial system comprises of 9 major courts which were established under the Courts Act 1961:

• Supreme Court: is the court of final appeal, it hears appeals from High Courts and Court of Criminal Appeal. It is comprised of one President, also known as the chief justice, and seven ordinary judges.
• Court of Criminal Appeal:hears appeals from the Circuit Court, the Central Criminal Court and the Special Criminal Court. It is comprised of one judge of the Supreme Court and two judges from the High Court.
• Courts Martial Appeal Court: hears appeals from persons convicted by court-martial.
• High Court:hears appeals from Circuit Courts on civil, criminal and family law matters. It is comprised of one President and 36 ordinary judges.
• Central Criminal Court:is a part of the High Court.
• Special Criminal Court:runs on its own practices and procedures for resolving criminal cases. It is taken into consideration when other ordinary courts are found ineffective under special criminal cases. It is comprised of 3 judges.
• Circuit Court:hears appeals on civil, criminal and family law matters, but with limited and local jurisdiction powers. It is also responsible for the selection of juries for Circuit Criminal Courts. It is comprises of one President and 37 ordinary judges. There is a total of eight circuit courts across the country.
• District Court:hears appeals on civil, criminal and family law matters. It is comprised of one President and 36 ordinary judges.
• Children Court:undertakes cases related to children under the age of 16 years. It is present in Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

(Source: Courts Service of Ireland)

Ireland had an estimated population of 4,470,700 as of April 2010, growing by 0.26% from the previous year. Dublin is the most populated city, followed by Cork, Limerick city, Galway and Waterford. Around 44% of population is between 15 and 44 years of age.

*preliminary estimates

 The country has a balanced gender ratio, with almost equal numbers of males and females.

During 2009-2010, there were 65,300 emigrants and 30,800 immigrants. 

 (Source: CSO)

 Ethnic environment

The majority of the population are native Irish. 

 (Source: CSO)

 Birth and death rate

Ireland had a birth rate of 16.7 births per 1,000 people, and death rate of 6.5 deaths per 1,000 people in 2010. The birth rate is the highest among European Union countries. However, it has decreased decreased by 1.80% and 3.08% in birth and death rates, respectively.

*rates per 1,000 people

 (Source: joe.ie, CSO,)

Infant mortality rate

 Ireland’s infant mortality was 3.2 in 2009, and has been declining since 2001.

 (Source: CSO)

Life expectancy rate

 In terms of life expectancy Ireland has a higher reported average rate then the other European Union countries. The life expectancy for males was 76.8 years and for females was 81.6 years in the period of 2005-07.

(Source: DOHC)

Human Development Index (HDI)

Ireland is ranked 5^th on the HDI 2010. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development which are measured by life expectancy, adult literacy & enrolment in education and per capita GNP at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

(Source: HDR UNDP)

Education

Ireland follows a three-level education system:

• Primary (first level)
• Secondary (second level)
• Tertiary (third level)

The first level education consists of two-years of kindergarten education and 6 years of primary schooling. Second level education consists of 5-6 years of schooling at secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools & institutions. The third level education includes the  university sector, the technology sector, teacher training institutions and other aided institutions.

(Source: Department of Education & Skills, Department of Education & Skills)

Healthcare

The country’s total public health expenditures amounted to EUR 14,849 mn in 2010, decreasing 4.3% compared to 2009. The expenditure on public health has more than doubled from 2001 to 2010.

Leading causes of death in Ireland include diseases of the circulatory system, cancer and deaths from external causes.

The country’s public health services had 108,838 employees in 2010. As of August 2010, the country had 2,429 consultant hospital doctors employed by public healthcare services and 4,654 non-consultant hospital doctors. Non-consultant doctors include house officers, interns, registrars and senior registrars and specialist.

 (Source: DOHC)

Transport

Public transport in Ireland includes bus, rail and trams. Trams are operated within Dublin, connecting suburban areas with the city centre.

Roadways

The total length of roadways in Ireland is 5,443.73 km. Roadways in the country include:

• Motorway
• Dual Carriageway
• Two Plus One (TPO)
• Single

(Source: nra.ie)

A total count of road vehicles at the end of 2009 stood at 2,467,660. 

(Source: Department of Transport)

Ports

As of 2009, there were 19 major ports in Ireland. A total of 13,223 vessels arrived at Irish ports in 2009. 

Airports

The country has four major international airports- Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Shannon. Out of these 3 airports, Shannon has longest runway length of 3,170 meters.

(Source: Department of Transport, Aircraft Charter World)

Telecommunications

There were more than 5 million mobile phone subscribers in the nation at the end of 2010, with a penetration rate of 116%. Three mobile virtual network entities and five mobile phone companies operate in the country.

The country had about1.6 million broadband subscribers in 2010. Mobile and cable broadband grew at a rate of 35% and 36.5%, respectively.

(Source: comreg.ie,comreg.ie)