The Republic of Ireland

History

• First settlements arrived in 8000BC• By 200 BC celtic influence dominated the

island• Complete European domination by the 1600s • Became part of the UK in 1801• Potato famine in mid 1800s• Anglo-Irish war ended in 1921

Recent History

• Civil War from 1922-1923• Became a republic in 1949 when the Free

State left the Commonwealth• In 1973, both parts of Ireland joined the

European Community • Conflict in North Ireland led to unrest from

1960s-1990s following a peace deal in 1998• Switched to Euro in 2002, used pound before

Anglo-Irish War

• Between British Government and the Irish Republican Army

• IRA was led by Roy O’Connor• The main driving force behind the

independence movement was Michael Collins• IRA won, Ireland won independence from

Britain

Irish Civil War

• Between the Free State and the Republican opposition

• Free State favored the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Republican thought they treaty was a betrayal of the Irish Republic

• Won by the Free State Forces

Demographics

• Population: 4,203,200 • Age Range: 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022)

15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760) 65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661)

• Average Age: total: 35 years male: 34.2 years female: 35.7 years

• Growth Rate: 1.12%• Birth Rate: 14.23 births/1,000 population• Death Rate: 7.77 deaths/1,000 population • Life Expectancy: total population: 78.24 years

male: 75.6 years female: 81.06 years

Demo. cont

• Ethnic Groups: Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6%

• Religion: Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2%

• Languages: English and Gaelic• Literacy Rate: 99%

Legislation

• Bicameral Parliament (or Oireachtas)• Consists of a Senate with 60 seats. 49 are

elected by universities and 11 are nominated by the Prime Minister. 5 year terms.

• Consists of House of Representatives with 166 seats, voted in through proportional representation. 5 year terms.

Parties Number of Seats

Fianna Fail 28

Fine Gael 14

Labor Party 6

Progressive Democrats 2

Green Party 2

Sein Fein 1

Independents 7

Senate Seats by Party

Parties Percentage of Vote Number of Seats

Fianna Fail 41.6 78

Fine Gael 27.3 51

Labor Party 10.1 20

Sinn Fein 6.9 4

Green Party 4.7 6

Progressive Democrats 2.7 2

Independents/Other 6.7 4

House of Representatives Vote Percentage and Seats by Party

Prime Minister

• Currently Brian Cowen (2008)• Head of gov• Nominated by the House of Reps and

appointed by the president• Also called the Taoiseach• Can be removed by a vote of no

confidence

Former PMs

• Bertie Ahern (1997-2008): coalition government, high economic growth during his periods

• John Bruton (1994-1997): Rainbow Coalition, Northern Ireland freedom

• Albert Reynolds (1992-1994): X case incident, Gulf War

• Charles Haughey (1979-1981, 1982, 1987-1992): 1979 energy crisis, 3 terms as PM

President

• Currently Mary McAleese (1997)• Elected for seven year terms, eligible for a

second term • Head of state• First Irish President was

Douglass Hyde

Line of Succession

• No VP• Successor must be elected in 60 days• VP duties are carried out by Presidential

commission, which consists of Chief Justice, Speaker of the House, and Chairperson of the Senate

Impeachment

• Only two ways that the pres can be impeached• Removed by Supreme Court if at least five

sitting judges and pres has become “permanently incapacitated”

• Can be removed by House with 2/3 vote but only for “stated misbehavior”

• House Impeachment can only be started by request of at least 30 members

Cabinet

• Appointed by Pres with previous nomination by the PM

• Approved by House• Dismissed by advice by PM

Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court• Judges appointed by Pres on advice by PM and

Cabinet• Judicial Review• Sits in Four Courts in Dublin• 9 members including Chief Justice• Chief Justice is Currently John L. Murray (2008)

Bureaucracy

• Civil servants are ambivalent about the brokerage activities of politicians

• Councilors are concerned with re-election and political rivalries, and use their office to enhance their political standing

• Manager is legally responsible for the execution of policy

Northern Ireland

• Controlled by England• Succeeded from Ireland in 1921

Economy

• Trade oriented• GDP $285 Billion • GDP division: agriculture: 5%

industry: 46% services: 49%

• Uses Euro• In 2007, surpassed the per capita GDP of

U.S.A.

Political Culture

• People 18 and older have suffrage• European Union• Vote more conservative• Catholic• Love for Irish language, culture and history

Foreign Policy

• Peace with GB, Northern Ireland, and Sinn Fein

• EU membership is crucial to the survival of Ireland

Political Parties

• Fianna Fáil: Conservative, largest, most successful• Fine Gael: Moderate Conv, 2nd largest party• Labour: Socialist, left wing democratic• Green Party: Environmental party, advocates socially liberal

policies• Sinn Féin: revolves around democratic socialism, Irish

Republicanism, and Irish Nationalism• Progressive Democrats: Liberal, Free Market, liberal

economics, social moral policies current leader is Noel Grealish

• Independents

Fianna Fáil

• Republican Party• History of corruption• Leading party in coalition gov with green party• Founded in March 23 1926• Leader is Brian Cowen

Fine Gael

• United Ireland Party• Christian democracy• Founded Sept 3 1933• Pro-EU• Opposed to violent Irish Republican• Leader is Enda Kenny

Labour Party

• Founded 1912• Left wing, democratic socialist• Leader is Eamon Gilmore

Great Potato Famine

• Lasted from 1845-1852• Reduced the population of Ireland by 20-25%• A million of the population died and another

million emigrated from Ireland• It permanently changed Ireland’s

demographic, political, and cultural landscape

Great Potato Famine Cont

• It is remembered as one of the most historical points in Irish history

• It has been debated if it constituted genocide• Became a rallying point for various nationalist

movements

Learning Objectives

• History of Ireland• Prime Minster and responsibilities• President and responsibilities• Legislation and process of elected and • Judiciary-judicial review?

Learning Objectives Cont

• Northern Ireland• Political Parties• Relations in Europe/EU• Economy• Former PMs and major political & historical

figures