eaboard, English is the language generally used

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland

Data code: EI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Dublin

Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified
by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
1990) was elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997);
results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December
1994) was nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by
the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by president with previous nomination
of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next
to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor
9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held 25
November 1992 (next to be held by NA November 1997); results -
Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive
Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party
0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine
Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left
4, Greens 1, independents 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
on the advice of the government (prime min