Ireland’s population is growing for the first time in over 150 years, which is affecting just about every aspect of life here.
The changes are reflected in stats about births, marriages and deaths and those relating to education, crime and emigration. This is a quick regularly updated snapshot of a changing Ireland.
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Lots of information about how much people in Ireland earn, what they work at, what they produce and how they travel.
This is an area that, given the crisis in the world economy at present, is likely to change radically over the next few months. We’ll keep this post updated.
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Ireland is a Democratic Republic, with an elected president. However the president has few executive roles, and power resides in the Dail, a house of elected representatives led by the Taoiseach, or prime minister.
The method of voting, Proportional Representation, can seem confusing to those unfamiliar with it, but results in exciting elections and elected representation of even relatively small minority groups.
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Although it jealously guards its reputation as a clean, green country, Ireland, in common with other developed countries, faces significant environmental challenges.
While our rivers, lakes and mountains are a beautiful and precious part of our heritage, it’s a constant battle to keep them clean in the face of illegal dumping and a rapidly increasing population.
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The biggest misconception about religion in Ireland is that it is officially a Catholic state. Although Ireland’s population is predominantly Catholic, it is a secular state.
A recent influx of emigrants, especially from Eastern Europe and Africa, has brought a significant rise in Pentecostal and Orthodox churches, especially in Dublin.
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Boy does proportional representation, the method of voting in Ireland, confuse those unfamiliar with it!
In Ireland it has made elections fascinating occasions, almost akin to a blood sport at times, as the last seats are fought over fiercely and often won by incredibly thin margins.
Irish people will talk politics forever and relish a good argument on the subject and there is no doubt that proportional representation gives voters plenty to talk about at election time.
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