Ireland

At a glance

Ireland joined the euro area on 1 January 1999. Euro banknotes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002. Until that date the euro was the official currency but only existed as 'book money'. The euro replaced the Irish pound (IEP) at the conversion rate of EUR 1 = IEP 0.787564.

Ireland is represented by Enda Kenny, The Taoiseach, at Euro Summit meetings and by its Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, at Eurogroup meetings.

Adoption of the euro: 01/01/1999
Former currency: Irish pound (EUR 1 = IEP 0.787564 )
GDP per capita (current prices): €34 900 (2011 - Eurostat)
Number of votes at the Council of the EU: 7
Member of the Schengen area: No
Official languages: Irish (Gaelic) (ga), English (en)

Government

Ireland has a bicameral parliamentary system. The Parliament (Oireachtas) is composed of the Chamber of Deputies (Dáil Éireann) and the Senate (Seanad Éireann).

The Chamber of Deputies has 166 members elected for five years.

The Senate has 60 senators:

43 are elected by five panels representing vocational interests (Culture and Education, Agriculture, Labour, Industry and Commerce and Public Administration),
6 are elected by the graduates of two universities (three each by the National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin (Trinity College)
11 are nominated by the Taoiseach (the Prime Minister).

The President of the Republic is the head of state, and is elected for seven years by direct universal suffrage. The term is renewable once. The President has no specific executive powers which rest with the Prime Minister (Taoiseach).

Other facts:

Political system: republic
Voting age: 18, voting not compulsory
National Day: 17 March (St Patrick's Day)

Institutions

Contacts

Permanent Representation to the EU

Rue Froissart/Froissartstraat 50
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIUM
Tel. +32 22308580

Website

Documents

Excessive Deficit Procedure

07-12-2010	Council Recommendation with a view to bringing to an end the situation of an excessive deficit in Ireland
16-11-2010	Statement by Eurogroup - Ireland
30-09-2010	Statement by the Eurogroup on the situation in Ireland
02-12-2009	COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION to Ireland with a view to bringing an end to the situation of an excessive government deficit

Status:

Member

Key facts and figures

Member of the euro area: since 1 January 1999
EU accession: 1 January 1973
Capital: Dublin
Population: 4 495 351 (2012 - Eurostat)
Area: 69 797 km2

Representatives

	Euro Summit Enda Kenny
	Eurogroup Michael Noonan