*Ireland, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ireland
Digraph:
EI
Type:
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)
Constitution:
29 December 1937; adopted 1937
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
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor
Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland,
Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond
O'MALLEY
note:
Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and
the Labor Party
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
Senate:
last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held 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:
last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); 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
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate
(Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail
Eireann)

*Ireland, Government

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)