# Ireland - United States Department of State

- Ireland HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Ireland				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Ireland																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Ireland during the year.There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The law prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Most prison conditions met international standards, but some failed to meet prisoners’ basic hygiene needs.Abusive Physical Conditions: As of October 2, prisons overall held 2 percent more inmates than the official capacity of the system. In July 2022 the UN Human Rights Committee review of the country under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) expressed concerns of overcrowding and recommended the country separate detainees and convicted prisoners.In July the Prison Service reported that eight prisoners (of a total prison population of 4,593) in one prison were subject to “slopping out,” a process in which prisoners had to use chamber pots due to a lack of sanitary facilities. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) noted a continuing decrease in the number of prisoners subject to “slopping out” since 2014 and emphasized the practice was “degrading not only for the persons using the chamber pot but also for the persons with whom the prisoner shares a cell and also debasing for the prison officers who have to supervise the slopping-out procedure.” A substantial number (51 percent in April) of prisoners were required to use the toilet in the presence of another prisoner. The Irish Penal Reform Trust criticized the practice as “inhumane and degrading.”As of April, authorities subjected 776 prisoners to a restricted regime (out of an average of 4,586 in prison that month) where a prisoner was confined to a cell for a minimum of 19 hours.Administration: The Office of the Inspector of Prisons, an independent statutory body, had oversight of the complaints system. Prisoners could submit complaints regarding their treatment to the prison service, but they did not have access to a fully independent complaints mechanism. The Office of the Inspector of Prisons described the prison complaints system as inadequate, unreliable, and “not fit for purpose.” The 2020 CPT report noted that “complaints relating to staff abuse are not always investigated in a timely fashion, with investigators often only initiating the investigation three or more months after a complaint is made. Further, prisoners receive no feedback on their complaints and several prisoners alleged that they were subjected to bullying by prison officers after they had submitted a complaint. Many prisoners consider, with some justification, that it is not worth making a complaint. As a result, a situation of impunity could emerge within prisons of officers not being held to account for their actions.”Independent Monitoring: The Office of the Inspector of Prisons inspected all 12 prisons in the country from 2020-2023 and publicly released its reports. The government cooperated with international monitoring bodies, such as the CPT, and permitted visits and monitoring by independent human rights observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						An arrest typically required a warrant issued by a judge, except in situations necessitating immediate action for the protection of the public. The law provided the right to a prompt judicial determination of the legality of a detention, and authorities respected this right. Authorities were required to inform detainees promptly of the charges against them and, with few exceptions, could not hold them longer than 24 hours without charge. For crimes involving firearms, explosives, or membership in an unlawful organization, a judge could extend detention for an additional 24 hours upon a police superintendent’s request. The law permitted detention without charge for up to seven days in cases involving suspicion of drug trafficking, although police were required to obtain a judge’s approval to hold such a suspect longer than 48 hours. The law required authorities to bring a detainee before a district court judge “as soon as possible” to determine bail status pending a hearing. A court could refuse bail to a person charged with a crime carrying a penalty of five years’ imprisonment or longer or when a judge deems continued detention necessary to prevent the commission of another offense.The law permitted detainees, upon arrest, to have access to attorneys. The court appointed an attorney at public expense if a detainee did not have one. The law allowed detainees prompt access to family members.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.The law provided for two nonjury Special Criminal Courts when the director of public prosecutions certified a case, such as terrorist, paramilitary group, or criminal gang offenses, to be beyond the capabilities of an ordinary court. A panel of three judges, usually including one High Court judge, one circuit judge, and one district judge, heard such cases. They reached their verdicts by majority vote. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Amnesty International, and the UN Human Rights Council expressed concern that the Special Criminal Court standard for admissibility of evidence was too low and that there was no appeal against a prosecuting authority’s decision to send a case to the special court. In 2022 there were seven trials involving nine defendants in the Special Criminal Court. Most of the cases involved membership in an illegal organization or possession of firearms or explosives.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										The country endorsed the 2009 Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues. No immovable property was confiscated from Jews or other targeted groups in the country during World War II, either by the government or Nazi Germany. According to the country’s delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the country experienced only two cases in which allegations concerning provenance of artworks were made, and therefore it did not enact formal implementation mechanisms for restitution of potentially Nazi-looted art in this regard.The Department of State’s Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act Report to Congress, released publicly in July 2020, can be found on the Department’s website:  https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The law provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.Freedom of Expression: The law prohibited words or behaviors likely to generate hatred against persons because of their race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, national origins, or sexual orientation.The law placed a duty on broadcasters not to broadcast any material which could reasonably be regarded as causing harm or offense, or as being likely to promote or incite crime or which undermines the authority of the state.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content. Consistent with an EU directive, the government required telecommunication companies to retain information on all telephone and internet contacts (not content) for two years.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution and law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.Access to Asylum: The law provided for the granting of refugee or subsidiary protection status, and the government had a system for providing protection to refugees. Asylum seekers whose initial applications were rejected could appeal the decision. Asylum seekers had access to legal advice.Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) expressed concern over the length and complexity of the application and appeal processes. In 2022 the average length of stay in “direct provision” was 24 months, unchanged from the previous year. Direct provision was a system that included housing, meals, a weekly cash allowance, access to health care, and education for children.Despite gaps in its victims of trafficking National Referral Mechanism that excluded asylum seekers, in 2022, the government reported identifying 15 trafficking victims in the asylum system; victims were referred either by a government-funded NGO, Health Services Executive, or through government offices responsible for reviewing asylum applications and government-funded accommodations.Employment: An individual seeking asylum could access the labor market six months after applying for international protection.Access to Basic Services: Authorities employed a system called “direct provision” for asylum seekers. Direct provision facilities operated at capacity, which required the government to house asylum seekers in emergency accommodations in hotels. NGO representatives said the government’s overreliance on emergency accommodations led to serious difficulties for asylum seekers to access basic services, including health care and education.Durable Solutions: The government operated a resettlement program to accommodate up to 200 persons referred by the UNHCR or identified through selection missions to UNHCR refugee operations. Under the Irish Refugee Protection Program, the government committed to accepting 4,000 refugees, including 2,622 via the EU relocation program. From the inception of the program through September, a total of 3,413 persons arrived in the country.In addition, as of October 10, there were approximately 96,000 Ukrainians registered in the country under the Temporary Protection Directive. The Department of Justice, the Department of Social Protection, Health Service Executive, and International Organization for Migration provided services to new arrivals. The government provided temporary protection to more than 93,000 beneficiaries as of October 10.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported presidential elections in 2018 and 2020 parliamentary elections were fair and free of abuses and irregularities.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were no reports of central government corruption.Corruption: There were isolated reports of low-level government corruption.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						Several domestic and international human rights groups operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies: The law obliged public bodies to take account of human rights and equality in the course of their work. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, an independent government organization, monitored adherence of public bodies to legal obligations. The commission was active throughout the year, holding consultations, training sessions, briefings, and policy reviews on human rights issues.The human rights subcommittee of the parliamentary Committee on Justice examined how issues, themes, and proposals before parliament took human rights concerns into account.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalized rape of a person, regardless of gender, including spousal rape. The government enforced the law. Most convicted persons received prison sentences of five to 12 years. The law also criminalized domestic violence, including coercive control. It authorized prosecution of a violent family member and provided survivors with “safety orders,” which prohibited the offender from engaging in violent actions or threats, and “barring orders” (restraining orders), which prohibited an offender from entering the family home for up to three years. Anyone found guilty of violating a barring or interim protection order could receive a fine, a prison sentence of up to 12 months, or both.Discrimination: The law provided for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, including under family, religious, personal status, and nationality laws as well as laws related to labor, property, inheritance, employment, access to credit, and owning or managing business or property. The government enforced the law effectively, although inequalities in pay and promotions persisted in both the public and private sectors. Travellers (a traditionally itinerant minority ethnic group), Roma, and migrant women had low levels of participation in political and public life.The constitution stated that “by her life within the home, a woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved” and that “the State shall, therefore, endeavor to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home.” The law banned discrimination based on sex, and specifically required equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. Nevertheless, women faced inequalities in pay and promotions in both the public and private sectors.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. There were no reports of vulnerable populations experiencing difficulties accessing medical treatment affecting reproductive health. Capable adults were required to consent to all medical treatments, including those that arise from vulnerable populations. The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services, including the provision of contraception and abortion, for survivors of sexual violence. Postexposure prophylaxis was available as part of clinical management of rape.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The law prohibited discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation, and education on grounds of race, religion, or membership in the Traveller community. The government enforced the law effectively.Societal discrimination and violence against immigrants and racial, ethnic, and religious minorities were a problem. The country’s African and Muslim communities in particular experienced racially and religiously motivated physical violence, intimidation, graffiti, and verbal slurs.The law obliged local officials to develop suitable accommodation sites for Travellers and to solicit input from the Travellers. According to the Human Rights and Equality Commission, Travellers were 22 times more likely than other respondents to report discrimination in access to housing. The Traveller community reported higher than average levels of homelessness and unemployment, and poor access to health care and educational services.In 2022 the Irish Penal Reform Trust published a report on the rights of foreign national and minority ethnic groups in the country’s penal system. The report found that at times foreign nationals received longer sentences than local citizens for controlled drug offenses and sexual offenses; foreign nationals and minority ethnic persons in prison faced significant problems that had the effect of limiting trust with any part of the penal system.																																				Children										Child Abuse: The law criminalized physical and psychological abuse and engaging in, or attempting to engage in, a sexual act with juveniles. The government enforced the law effectively. For victims ages 15 to 16, the maximum sentence was seven years in prison, which could increase to 15 years if the accused was a person in authority, such as a parent or teacher. For victims younger than age 15, the maximum sentence was life imprisonment. Tusla, the government’s child and family agency, provided child protection, early intervention, and family support services. The government also provided funding to NGOs that carried out information campaigns against child abuse as well as those who provided support services to victims.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage was 18, including for citizens who married abroad. Forced marriage was illegal and punishable by a fine, up to seven years’ imprisonment, or both. The government enforced the law effectively.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibited the sale, grooming, or using children for commercial exploitation, including sex trafficking. The law prohibited child pornography, and authorities enforced the law. Trafficking of children and taking a child from home for sexual exploitation carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A person convicted of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation faced a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. The law included offenses relating to child sexual grooming and child pornography. The minimum age for consensual sex was 17. Authorities enforced the law.The law provided for a fine, a prison sentence of up to 14 years, or both for a person convicted of allowing a child to be used for pornography. For producing, distributing, printing, or publishing child pornography, the maximum penalty was a fine, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.Some gaps in trafficking victim identification remained. In 2022 there were five identified child trafficking victims. The national rapporteur, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, highlighted the lack of identified children could be a result of insufficient expertise among social workers regarding the identification of child trafficking victims.																																				Antisemitism										According to the 2022 census, the Jewish community numbered approximately 2,700 persons. There were no reports of antisemitic violence or vandalism. There were sporadic reports of high-profile members of the Jewish community being harassed on social media. Alan Shatter, former Minister for Justice, was targeted on X (formerly Twitter) due to his outspoken views on Israel and his Jewish heritage. Authorities enforced the law when violations were reported.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: The law did not criminalize consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, cross-dressing, or other sexual or gender characteristic-related behaviors.Violence and Harassment: There were reports of isolated instances of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons. The government enforced the law when instances were reported.Discrimination: The law prohibited discrimination in employment, goods, services, and education by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. The law recognized LGBTQI+ individuals, couples, and their families and granted them rights equal to rights of other persons. The law did not include gender identity as an explicit category, but courts interpreted the law as prohibiting discrimination against transgender persons. The government generally enforced the law when instances of discrimination were reported.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Persons older than 18 could update their legal gender marker through a simple administrative process of self-determination.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: There were no reports of so-called conversion therapy practiced on adults or children.The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2023-2027 provided for the prohibition of “the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland” and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2023-2027 committed to ensuring that the practice of so-called conversion therapy in the country was investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures. Government-commissioned research into conversion therapy in the country was published on February 17. It captured the experiences of persons who were subjected to conversion therapy, and an examination of international research literature in the area.There were no reports of medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries performed on children or nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no laws or other restrictions on individuals speaking or media reporting on LGBTQI+ matters, on the ability of LGBTQI+ individuals to assemble in public or private or to form associations, or on the ability of LGBTQI+ organizations to legally register or convene events.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law required that persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities have access to education, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis. Government information and communication on disability issues were required to be provided in accessible formats. The government effectively enforced these provisions and implemented programs to ensure that persons with disabilities had full access to education, health services, transportation, buildings, information, and communications. The law prohibited discrimination on the basis of disability; however, persons with disabilities faced some discrimination in employment and occupation.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The constitution provided for the rights of workers to form and join independent unions and bargain collectively. The law provided for the right to strike in both the public and private sectors, except for police and military personnel and postal and utility workers. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and provided for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. The law provided a mechanism for the registration of employment agreements between employers and trade unions governing wages and employment conditions.The law did not require employers to engage in collective bargaining. Police and military personnel could form associations (technically not unions) to represent them in matters of pay, working conditions, and general welfare. The Industrial Relations Acts provided a governmental dispute resolution mechanism in some circumstances where an employer refused any engagement with worker representatives.Labor unions had the right to pursue collective bargaining and did so freely, with employers’ cooperation in most cases. Sector-wide collective bargaining agreements were not legally binding. While workers were constitutionally protected in forming trade unions, employers were not legally obliged to recognize unions or to negotiate with them. The functions of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), an independent statutory body, included the promotion and maintenance of good workplace relations. In addition, the WRC was responsible for achieving compliance with relevant employment legislation. The Labor Court was the court of last resort in industrial relations disputes and the sole appellate body in employment rights cases.There was no right to take industrial action but there were legal protections for certain workers who did this by, for example, going on strike. Where notice of a strike or any other form of industrial action was being served on an employer, a minimum of seven days’ notice applied. Sympathy and political strikes or strikes against an organization that was not the direct employer were not lawful.The government effectively enforced the law. Penalties were commensurate with those for analogous crimes, and inspection was adequate to enforce compliance. Penalties were regularly applied against violators.There were no reports of violations of the law protecting the right to freedom of association. The country allocated adequate resources to provide oversight of labor relations. The Labor Court generally processed cases with a minimum of delay. Workers freely exercised their labor rights. Unions conducted their activities without government interference. There were no reports of antiunion discrimination. Labor leaders did not report any threats or violence from employers.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										The law prohibited the worst forms of child labor and employment of children younger than age 16 in full-time jobs. Employers could hire children as young as age 14 for light work on school holidays as part of an approved work experience or educational program. Employers could hire children older than 15 on a part-time basis during the school year. The law established rest intervals and maximum working hours, prohibited the employment of children 18 and younger for most late-night work, and required employers to keep detailed records of workers younger than 18. Seafarers ages 16 or 17 could be required to work at night if the work was not detrimental to their health or well-being.The law identified hazardous occupations and occupational safety and health restrictions for workers younger than 18. Employers were required to verify there was no significant risk to the safety and health of young persons and consider the increased risk arising from the lack of maturity and experience in identifying risks to their workers’ safety and health. The law stipulated that exposure to physical, biological, and chemical agents or certain processes be avoided and provided a nonexhaustive list of agents, processes, and types of work from which anyone younger than 18 could require protection.The government effectively enforced applicable laws and received no reports of illegal child labor. The WRC was responsible for enforcement, and it was effective, with adequate resources and investigative and enforcement powers. Penalties were commensurate with those for analogous crimes. Penalties were regularly applied against violators.There were no confirmed reports during the year of the worst forms of child labor.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The national minimum hourly wage was established by law and exceeded the unofficial poverty line. Laws establishing and regulating wage levels covered migrant workers. The law limited the workweek to 48 hours and limits overtime work to two hours per day, 12 hours per week, and 240 hours per year. The government effectively enforced these standards. There was no statutory entitlement to premium pay for overtime.All sectors of the economy respected minimum wage and hours of work standards.Occupational Safety and Health: The government set appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for all industries, many of which were derived from EU directives and regulations. By law an employer could not penalize, through dismissal, other disciplinary action, or less favorable treatment, employees who lodged a complaint or exercised their rights under health and safety legislation. The government proactively identified unsafe conditions. Employers had an obligation to protect an employee’s safety, health, and welfare at work as far as was reasonably practicable. All sectors of the economy generally respected OSH standards, although there were isolated reports of violations in the offshore fishing and construction sectors.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The WRC secured compliance with wage and hour legislation through inspection and dispute resolution. The WRC’s Inspection Services had the authority to carry out employment rights compliance inspections. The Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment was responsible for enforcing OSH laws, and inspectors were authorized to make unannounced visits and initiate sanctions.Depending on the seriousness of the violation, courts could impose fines, prison sentences, or both, for violating the law. The government effectively enforced minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws. Penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes. Penalties were regularly applied against violators. No complaints from either labor or management were filed during the year regarding shortcomings in enforcement. In 2022, the WRC carried out 5,820 inspections. The number of inspectors was sufficient to enforce compliance. Inspectors had the authority to make unannounced inspections.																																				    							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Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. 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Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Ireland
- On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day																																		Press Statement																														March 17, 2024																																							On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm wishes to the people of Ireland, and all those celebrating around the world, for a happy and hopeful St. Patrick’s Day.In 2024, we proudly mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries, a milestone that underscores this is, as President Biden said, a “partnership for the ages.” As we look ahead to the next century of friendship and cooperation, let us reflect on the countless contributions of the Irish people to our global community.Today is an opportunity to celebrate the rich history, vibrant culture, and resilient spirit of Ireland. Let us also acknowledge the profound bond shared by our people, fostering a connection that transcends borders and enriches our shared heritage.Throughout the decades, the United States and Ireland have collaborated closely across various spheres such as research and innovation, food, and energy security, combatting climate change, and advancing economic opportunity for underrepresented members of our communities.We welcome Ireland’s continued leadership and look forward to many years ahead of deep collaboration and partnership. May the spirit of St. Patrick&#8217;s Day inspire us to embrace diversity, cherish traditions, and strive for a brighter future together – le Chéile.						Tags																					Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Ireland																								Office of the Spokesperson																								The Secretary of State
- U.S. Special Envoy Kennedy Travels to Ireland Office of the SpokespersonU.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joseph Kennedy, III is on official travel to Belfast and Dublin January 30 to February 2. In Belfast, Special Envoy Kennedy is engaging with an array of business and industry leaders, Chamber of Commerce members, and young entrepreneurs. The trip will include visits to Queens University Belfast and Stranmillis University College. In Dublin, Special Envoy Kennedy will participate in a fireside chat with Ambassador Claire Cronin. His trip will focus on Northern Ireland business and investment priorities for 2024 and highlight the continued, important role U.S. investors play in preserving the gains of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.
- Nuclear Weapon States Working-Level Experts Meeting on Strategic Risk Reduction Office of the SpokespersonThe United States is currently the chair of the dialogue among the five Nuclear Weapon States in an ongoing exchange in the context of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.In this capacity, the United States organized a working-level experts meeting with counterparts from the People’s Republic of China, France, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on August 2 in Vienna.Participants discussed strategic risks and measures to reduce those risks.  They welcomed the professional approach of the delegations and noted the significance of the substantive and informative expert-level discussions over the course of the last year.  They also affirmed the need to continue these challenging but important discussions.
- Ireland HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Ireland				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Ireland																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Brexit and its Implications for Ireland																																																																											Industrial Promotion																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																																									Bilateral or Multilateral Taxation Treaties and Agreements																																																																																	3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																											Data Storage																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																															10. Political and Security Environment																																																									Other Acts of Political Violence																																																																																	11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				In the past three years Ireland’s economy surpassed growth expectations despite the onset of Brexit (the UK’s exit from the European Union); multiple lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the fuel and gas crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irish government implemented varying degrees of lockdown measures beginning in March 2020, including restrictions to close non-essential businesses and services for extended periods of time. Unemployment (including COVID-19 related temporary unemployment) peaked at 28.1 percent in April 2020. Ireland’s official unemployment rate is now 4.3 percent (February 2023) while employment levels reached a record 2.57 million in 2022. Despite unprecedented government deficit spending to combat the pandemic, Ireland’s economy continued to perform as one of the best in the eurozone. Ireland recorded gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 13.5 percent in 2021 and GDP estimates increased by up to 12 percent in 2022. Most of Ireland’s economic growth can be attributed to export-focused industries (technology, pharmaceutical, and other large multinational companies headquartered in Ireland) with the domestic economy still struggling to bounce back from the effect of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine exacerbated Ireland’s growing inflation concerns with fuel and gas price rises leading to price increases across all sectors. This could dampen consumer spending and confidence and could result in lower-than-expected growth for 2023.The Irish government actively promotes foreign direct investment (FDI) and has had considerable success in attracting investment, particularly from the United States. There are over 950 U.S. subsidiaries in Ireland operating primarily in the following sectors: chemicals, biosciences, pharmaceutical and medical devices; computer hardware and software; internet and digital media; electronics, and financial services.One of Ireland&#8217;s many attractive features as an FDI destination is its favorable 12.5 percent corporate tax (in place since 2003), the second lowest in the European Union (EU). Ireland signed the organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s Inclusive Framework Agreement, which institutes minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent when implemented. Firms routinely note that they also come to Ireland for the high quality and flexibility of the English-speaking workforce; the availability of a multilingual labor force; cooperative labor relations; political stability; and pro-business government policies and regulators. Additional positive features include a transparent judicial system; extensive transportation links; proximity to the United States and Europe; and Ireland’s geographic location making it well-placed in time zones to support investment in Asia and the Americas. Ireland benefits from its membership of the EU and a barrier-free access to a market of almost 500 million consumers. In addition, the clustering of existing successful industries has created an ecosystem attractive to new firms. Brexit in 2021 left Ireland as the only remaining English-speaking country in the EU and may make Ireland even more attractive as a destination for FDI.The Irish government treats all firms incorporated in Ireland on an equal basis. Ireland&#8217;s judicial system is transparent and upholds the sanctity of contracts, as well as laws affecting foreign investment. Conversely, Ireland’s ability to attract investment is often marred by relatively high labor and operating costs (such as for energy); skilled-labor shortages; licensing and a slow and onerous planning permit system often stymied by NIMBY-ism (not in my backyard); eurozone-risk; infrastructure in need of investment (such as in transportation, affordable housing, energy and broadband internet); high income tax rates; uncertainty in EU policies on some regulatory matters; and absolute price levels among the highest in Europe. Ireland has a high dependence on imports of natural gas and fossils fuels for power generation. The effect on prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine combined with climate change targets has increased worries over the future security of energy supplies. New data centers, critical to the operations of many U.S. firms, must meet new requirements regarding location, energy consumption, and energy storage as Ireland’s electricity system struggles to meet demand for energy.A national security screening process for foreign investment in line with the EU framework is expected to be in place by late 2023. At present, investors looking to receive government grants or assistance through one of the four state agencies responsible for promoting foreign investment in Ireland are often required to meet certain employment and investment criteria.Ireland uses the euro as its national currency and enjoys full current and capital account liberalization.The government recognizes and enforces secured interests in property, both chattel and real estate. Ireland is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a party to the International Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property.Several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) operate in Ireland in the energy, broadcasting, and transportation sectors. All of Ireland’s SOEs are open to competition for market share.While Ireland has no bilateral investment treaties, the United States and Ireland have shared a Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation Treaty since 1950 that provides for national treatment of U.S. investors. The two countries have also shared a Tax Treaty since 1998, supplemented in December 2012 with an agreement to improve international tax compliance and to implement the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index202210 of 180http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overviewGlobal Innovation Index202223 of 132https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicatorU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2021$556,599 Milhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheetWorld Bank GNI per capita2021$76,110http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Irish government actively promotes FDI, a strategy that has fueled economic growth since the mid-1990s. The principal goal of Ireland’s investment promotion has been employment creation, especially in technology-intensive and high-skill industries. More recently, the government has focused on Ireland’s international competitiveness by encouraging foreign-owned companies to enhance research and development (R&amp;D) activities and to deliver higher-value goods and services.U.S. companies are attracted to Ireland as an exporting sales and support platform to the EU market of almost 500 million consumers and other global markets. Ireland is a successful FDI destination for many reasons, including a currently low corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent for all domestic and foreign firms (Ireland is party to the October 2021 OECD deal on a global minimum corporate tax that will set the tax rate to 15 percent); a well-educated, English-speaking workforce; the availability of a multilingual labor force; cooperative labor relations; political stability; and pro-business government policies and regulators. Ireland also benefits from a transparent judicial system; good transportation links; proximity to the United States and Europe, and the drawing power of existing companies operating successfully in Ireland (a so-called &#8220;clustering&#8221; effect).The stock of American FDI in Ireland stood at $557 billion in 2021. There are approximately 950 U.S. subsidiaries currently in Ireland employing roughly 209,000 people and supporting work for another 167,000 indirectly. This figure represents a significant proportion of the 2.57 million people employed in Ireland. U.S. firms operate primarily in the following sectors: chemicals, biosciences, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, computer hardware and software, web and digital media; electronics, and financial services.U.S. investment has been particularly important to the growth and modernization of Irish industry over the past forty years, providing new technology, export capabilities, management and manufacturing best practices, and employment opportunities. Ireland has more recently become an important R&amp;D center for U.S. firms in Europe, and a magnet for U.S. internet and digital media investment. Industry leaders like Google, Amazon, eBay, PayPal, Meta (Facebook), Twitter, LinkedIn, Electronic Arts, and cybersecurity firms like Tenable, Forcepoint, AT&amp;T Cybersecurity, and McAfee use Ireland as the hub their respective European, and sometimes Middle Eastern, African, and/or Indian operations.Factors that challenge Ireland’s ability to attract investment include relatively high labor and operating costs (such as for energy); sporadic skilled-labor shortages; and sometimes-deficient infrastructure (such as in transportation, energy, and broadband quality). Ireland also suffers from housing and high-quality office space shortages; absolute price levels that are among the highest in Europe and a slow and tedious planning permitting system often stymied by NIMBY-ism (not in my backyard). The government has introduced new planning legislation which is designed to remove logjams but until it is implemented, planning delays can constrain firms’ abilities to build infrastructure to support operations. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland has called for greater attention to a “skills gap” in the supply of Irish graduates to the high technology sector. It also has asserted that relatively high personal income tax rates can make attracting talent from abroad difficult.In 2013, Ireland became the first country in the eurozone to exit a financial bailout program from the EU, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund (EU/ECB/IMF, or so-called Troika). Compliance with the terms of the Troika program came at a substantial economic cost with gross domestic product (GDP) stagnation and austerity measures, while dealing with high unemployment (which hit 15 percent). Strong economic progress followed through government-backed initiatives to attract investment and stimulate job creation and employment.Despite the prolonged difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was further exacerbated by the economic effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ireland’s economic performance continued to be the best in the eurozone in 2022 with an estimated 12 percent growth, achieved on the back of strong exports from the food, pharmaceutical and med-tech sectors, and other large multinational companies headquartered in Ireland. The domestic economy struggled with temporary business closures due to the pandemic restrictions. With Ireland’s official unemployment rate at 4.3 percent in February 2023, employers are currently experiencing a tight labor market and expect this to continue through 2023 and 2024. Ireland’s sovereign debt remains attractive to investors exemplifying international confidence in Ireland’s economic progress.																																				Brexit and its Implications for Ireland										Ireland is the only remaining English-speaking country in the European Union (EU) following Brexit. The UK, no longer an EU member, shares a land border with Ireland. The December 2020 Brexit agreement dictated the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU. The agreement allowed Northern Ireland to remain within both Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and the EU single market. The Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) within the Brexit agreement allowed for Ireland – Northern Ireland trade to continue unimpeded in line with the obligations of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The NIP was updated by the Windsor Framework (WF) in February 2023 and will further refine customs and trade processes for goods trade between Great Britain and Ireland that transits through Northern Ireland. While there has been some disruption in the supply chain of retail and agricultural sectors (due to their traditional use of the UK “land-bridge” to move products to and from the EU), Irish companies have generally been able to find alternate routes (i.e., using ferries from Ireland directly to continental Europe), though this has raised costs in some sectors.With Brexit, Ireland has lost a close ally on EU policy matters, particularly on free trade and business-friendly open markets. Ireland continues to be heavily dependent on the UK as an export market and as a source of some raw materials, especially for food products. There has been a marked change in shipping patterns for Ireland’s trade with other member states with many switching to direct shipping rather than using Great Britain as a land-bridge for trucking products. Some UK-based firms (including U.S. firms) have moved headquarters or opened subsidiary offices in Ireland to facilitate ease of business with other EU countries. Ireland’s Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) estimate there will be a modest effect on Ireland’s economic growth in the midterm because of Brexit. The COVID-19 pandemic and more recently Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been more economically disruptive.																																				Industrial Promotion										Six government departments and organizations have responsibility to promote investment into Ireland by foreign companies:The Industrial Development Authority of Ireland (IDA Ireland) has overall responsibility for promoting and facilitating FDI in Ireland. IDA Ireland is also responsible for attracting foreign financial and insurance firms to Ireland including to Dublin&#8217;s International Financial Services Center (IFSC). IDA Ireland maintains seven U.S. offices (in New York, NY; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Mountain View, CA; Irvine, CA; Atlanta, GA; and Austin, TX), as well as offices throughout Europe and Asia.Enterprise Ireland (EI) is responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. EI works in partnership with enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate, and win export sales in global markets; and promotes joint ventures and strategic alliances between indigenous and foreign companies. The agency assists entrepreneurs establish in Ireland and assists foreign firms that wish to establish food and drink manufacturing operations in Ireland. EI has six existing offices in the United States (Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA). EI also has offices in Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Asia.Shannon Group (formerly the Shannon Free Airport Development Company) promotes FDI in the Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) and owns properties in the Shannon region as potential green-field investment sites. Since 2006, the responsibility for investment by Irish firms in the Shannon region has passed to EI while IDA Ireland remains responsible for FDI in the region.Udaras na Gaeltachta (Udaras) has responsibility for economic development in those areas of Ireland where the predominant language is Irish. Udaras works with IDA Ireland to promote overseas investment in these regions.Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has responsibility for economic messaging and supporting the country’s trade promotion agenda as well as diaspora engagement to attract investment.Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) supports the creation of jobs by promoting the development of a competitive business environment where enterprises can operate with high standards and grow in sustainable markets.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Irish law allows foreign corporations (registered under the Companies Act 2014 or previous legislation and known locally as a public limited company (plc)) to conduct business in Ireland. Any company incorporated abroad that establishes a branch in Ireland must file certain papers with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). A foreign corporation with a branch in Ireland has the same standing in Irish law for purposes of contracts, etc., as any domestic company incorporated in Ireland. Private businesses are not competitively disadvantaged to public enterprises with respect to access to markets, credit, and other business operations.No barriers exist to participation by foreign entities in the purchase of state-owned Irish companies. Residents of Ireland may, however, be given priority in share allocations over all other investors. There are no recent examples of this, but Irish residents received priority in share allocations in the 1998 sale of the state-owned telecommunications company Eircom. The government privatized the national airline Aer Lingus through a stock market flotation in 2005 but chose to retain about a one-quarter stake. At that time, U.S. investors purchased shares in the sale. The International Airlines Group (IAG) purchased the government’s remaining stake in the airline in 2015, and subsequently took an overall controlling interest which it continues to hold.Citizens of countries other than Ireland and EU member states can acquire land for private residential or industrial purposes. In the past, all non-EU nationals needed written consent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine before acquiring an interest in land zoned for agricultural use but these limitations no longer exist. There are many equine stud farms and racing facilities owned by foreign nationals. No restrictions exist on the acquisition of urban land.Ireland does not yet have formal investment screening legislation in place. Draft legislation has been submitted to the Dail (Irish parliament) which is expected to be enacted in late 2023. As a member of the EU, Ireland is required to implement any common EU investment screening regulations or directives such as the EU Framework.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										There were no third-party investment policy reviews in the past five years.																																				Business Facilitation										All firms must register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) online at  www.cro.ie . The CRO, as well as registering companies, can also register a business/trading name, a non-Ireland based foreign company (external company), or a limited partnership. Any firm or company registered under the Companies Act 2014 becomes a body corporate as and from the date mentioned in its certificate of incorporation. The CRO website permits online data submission. Firms must submit a signed paper copy of this online application to the CRO, unless the applicant company has already registered with  www.revenue.ie  (Ireland’s tax collecting authority, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners).The Ireland pages in the following link gives the most up-to-date information: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/country-navigator/102/ireland 																																				Outward Investment										EI assists Irish firms in developing partnerships with foreign firms mainly to develop and grow indigenous firms.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Ireland has not negotiated any bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with other EU members or the United States.The United States and Ireland have shared a Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation Treaty since 1950, which includes provisions common to BITs regarding national treatment, most-favored nation benefits, expropriation, and protection and security. The full text is here:  http://tcc.export.gov/Trade_Agreements/All_Trade_Agreements/exp_005438.asp .																										Bilateral or Multilateral Taxation Treaties and Agreements										Since 1998, Ireland and the United States have shared a Tax Treaty, supplemented in December 2012 with an agreement to improve international tax compliance and to implement the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The full text is here:  http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/ireland.pdf Ireland has signed comprehensive double taxation agreements (DTA) with 76 countries, 74 of which are fully ratified and in effect. These taxation agreements serve to promote trade andinvestment between Ireland and the partner countries that would otherwise be discouraged by the possibility of double taxation. The agreements generally cover corporate tax, income tax, and capital gains tax (direct taxes).The current list of agreements in effect, as of March 2023, includes the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia.Updates available here:  https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tax-agreements/double-taxation-treaties/tax-treaties-by-country.aspx In the absence of a bilateral tax treaty, provisions within the Irish Taxes Act allow unilateral credit relief against Irish taxation for taxes paid in the other country with respect to certain types of income, e.g., dividends and interest.Ireland is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, and party to the Inclusive Framework’s October 2021 deal on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges and a global minimum corporate tax.																																												3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										Ireland&#8217;s judicial system is transparent and upholds the sanctity of contracts, as well as laws affecting foreign investment. These laws include:The Companies Act 2014 which contains the basic requirements for incorporation in Ireland;The 2004 Finance Act which introduced tax incentives to encourage firms to set up headquarters in Ireland and to conduct R&amp;D;The Mergers, Takeovers and Monopolies Control Act of 1978 which sets out rules governing mergers and takeovers by foreign, and domestic firms;The Competition (Amendment) Act of 1996 which amends and extends the Competition Act of 1991 and the Mergers and Takeovers (Control) Acts of 1978 and 1987, and sets out the rules governing competitive behavior; and,The Industrial Development Act (1993) which outlines the functions of IDA Ireland.The Companies Act (2014), with more than 1,400 sections and 17 Schedules, is the largest-ever Irish statute. The Act consolidated and reformed all Irish company law for the first time in over 50 years.In addition, numerous laws and regulations pertain to employment, social security, environment protection and taxation, with many of these keyed to EU regulations and directives.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										Ireland has been a member of the EU since 1973. As a member, it incorporates all EU legislation into national legislation and applies all EU regulatory standards and rules. Ireland is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and follows all WTO procedures.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										Ireland’s legal system is common law. Courts are presided over by judges appointed by the President of Ireland (on the advice of the government). The Commercial Court is a designated court of the High Court which deals with commercial disagreements between businesses where the value of the claim is at least €1 ($1.2) million. The Commercial Court also oversees cases on intellectual property rights, including trademarks and trade secrets.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										Ireland treats all firms incorporated in Ireland on an equal basis. With only a few exceptions, no constraints prevent foreign individuals or entities from ownership or participation in private firms/corporations. The most significant of these exceptions is that, in common with other EU countries, Irish airlines must be at least 50 percent owned by EU residents to have full access to the single European aviation market. Citizens of countries other than Ireland and EU member states can acquire land for private residential or industrial purposes.In the past, one of Ireland&#8217;s many attractive features as an FDI destination was its low corporate tax rate. Since 2003, the headline corporate tax rate was 12.5 percent, one of the lowest in the EU. In 2014, the government announced firms would no longer be able to incorporate in Ireland without also being tax resident. Prior to 2014, firms could incorporate in Ireland and be tax resident elsewhere, making use of a tax avoidance arrangement colloquially known as the “Double Irish” to reduce tax liabilities. The Irish government is party to the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) negotiations and ratified the BEPS Multilateral Instrument in January 2019. The government implemented a Knowledge Development Box (KDB), effective 2016, which is consistent with OECD guidelines. The KDB allows for the application of a tax rate of 6.25 percent on profits arising to certain intellectual property assets that are the result of qualifying research and development activities carried out in Ireland.In October 2021, Ireland signed up to the OECD Inclusive Framework Agreement and will raise its corporate tax rate to 15 percent when implemented.The government is in the process of parliamentary review of new Investment Screening legislation. The new bill, ‘Screening of Third Countries Transactions Bill 2022’ legislation is expected to be enacted by summer 2023. The bill will empower the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to threats to Ireland’s security and public order posed by particular types of foreign investment; and to prevent or mitigate such threats. Under the legislation, the Minister will be able to assess, investigate, authorize, condition, or prohibit foreign investments from outside of the EU, based on a range of security and public order criteria.																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is an independent statutory body with a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland. The CPCC was established in 2014, following the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority. The CPCC enforces Irish and EU competition law in Ireland. It has the power to conduct investigations and can take civil or criminal enforcement action if it finds evidence of breaches of competition law.The CPCC is given enforcement powers by the Competition Act of 2002, subsequently amended, and extended by the Competition Act 2006. The Act introduced criminal liability for anti-competitive practices, increased corporate liability for violations, and outlined available defenses. Most tax, labor, environment, health and safety, and other laws are compatible with EU regulations, and they do not adversely affect investment. The government publishes proposed drafts of laws and regulations to solicit public comment, including those by foreign firms and their representative trade associations. Bureaucratic procedures are transparent and reasonably efficient, in line with the general pro-business approach of the government.The Irish Takeover Panel Act of 1997 gives the ‘Irish Takeover Panel’ responsibility for monitoring and supervising takeovers and other relevant corporate transactions. The minority squeeze-out provisions in the legislation, allows a bidder who holds 80 percent of the shares of the target firm (or 90 percent for firms with securities on a regulated market) to compel the remaining minority shareholders to sell their shares. There are no reports that the Irish Takeover Panel Act has prevented foreign takeovers, and, in fact, there have been several high-profile foreign takeovers of Irish companies in the banking and telecommunications sectors in the past. Although not recent, Babcock &amp; Brown (an Australian investment firm) acquired the former national telephone company, Eircom in 2006 which it subsequently sold to Singapore Technologies Telemedia in 2009. More Information:  https://irishtakeoverpanel.ie/rules/ The EU Directive on Takeovers provides a framework of common principles for cross-border takeover bids, creates a level playing field for shareholders, and establishes disclosure obligations throughout the EU. Irish legislation fully implemented the directive in 2006, though the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 had already incorporated many of its principles.Companies must notify the CCPC of mergers over a certain financial threshold for review as required by the Competition Act 2002, as amended (Competition Act).																																				Expropriation and Compensation										The government normally expropriates private property only for public purposes in a non-discriminatory manner and in accordance with established principles of international law. The government condemns private property in accordance with recognized principles of due process. The Irish courts provide a system of judicial review and appeal where there are disputes brought by owners of private property subject to a government action.																																				Dispute Settlement										There is no specific domestic body for handling investment disputes apart from the judicial system. The Irish Constitution, legislation, and common law form the basis for the Irish legal system. DETE has primary responsibility for drafting and enforcing company law. The judiciary is independent, and litigants are entitled to trial by jury in commercial disputes.																ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Ireland is a member of the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and a party to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, meaning local courts must enforce international arbitration awards under appropriate circumstances.Some U.S. business representatives have occasionally in the past, called into question the transparency of Irish government tenders. According to some U.S. firms, lengthy procedural decisions often delay the procurement tender process. Unsuccessful bidders have expressed concerns over difficulties receiving information on the rationale behind the tender outcome. In addition, some successful bidders have experienced delays in finalizing contracts, commencing work on major projects, obtaining accurate project data, and receiving compensation for work completed, including through conciliation and arbitration processes. Some successful bidders have also subsequently found that the original tenders may not have accurately described conditions on the ground.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Ireland treats all firms incorporated in Ireland on an equal basis. Ireland’s legal system is common law and Ireland’s courts apply Irish and EU legislation. All disputes are dealt with judicially. In the past ten years, we are not aware of any investment disputes involving U.S. investors nor of any extrajudicial action against foreign investors.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						Ireland’s judicial court system is used to settle all investor disputes. Investment disputes involving U.S. or other foreign investors in Ireland are extremely rare. There were no known instances of SOE investment disputes in the past five years.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										The Companies Act 2014 is the most important body of law dealing with commercial and bankruptcy law, which Irish courts consistently apply. Irish company bankruptcy legislation gives creditors a strong degree of protection.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										Three Irish organizations – IDA Ireland (IDA), EI, and Udaras – have regulatory authority for administering grant aid to investors for capital equipment, land, buildings, training, and R&amp;D. Foreign and domestic business enterprises seeking grant aid from these organizations must submit detailed investment proposals. These proposals typically include information on fixed assets (capital), labor, and technology/R&amp;D components, and establish targets using criteria such as sales, profitability, exports, and employment. The submitted information is business confidential, and each investment proposal is subject to an economic appraisal before support is offered or denied.Ireland’s investment agencies and foreign investors jointly establish employment creation targets, which usually serve as the basis for performance requirements. The agencies only pay grant aid after the foreign investors have attained externally audited performance targets. Grant-aid agreements generally have a repayment term of five years after the date on which the last installment is paid. Parent companies of the investor generally must also guarantee repayment of the government grant if the grant-aided company closes before an agreed time period elapses, normally ten years after the grant was paid. There are no requirements foreign investors must procure locally or allow nationals to own shares.The EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGs) in place from 2022- 2027, govern the maximum grant-aid the Irish government can provide to firms/businesses which are graded based on the regional location. The differences in the various aid ceilings reflect the relative development status of business/infrastructure in regions outside the greater Dublin area.Investors are generally free, subject to planning permission, to choose the location of their investment, however IDA has actively encouraged investment in regions outside Dublin since the 1990s. Investment regionalization has been government policy since 2001. IDA set out its plan to secure 800 investments and generate 50,000 new jobs by 2025 in its Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 strategy. IDA’s goal is to locate over half of all new FDI investments outside the two main urban centers of Dublin and Cork. IDA has developed regional hubs to facilitate clusters of activity around the country. In the past IDA has supported construction of business parks in counties Galway and Louth, to encourage biotechnology sector activity in those counties.There are no restrictions on participation by foreign firms in government-financed and/or -subsidized R&amp;D programs on a national basis. In fact, the government strongly encourages and incentivizes (via a partial tax break) foreign companies to conduct R&amp;D as part of its national strategy to build a more knowledge-intensive, innovation-based economy. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the state science agency, has been responsible for administering Ireland’s R&amp;D funding since 2000. Under its current strategy, SFI annually invests over $200 million in R&amp;D activities. SFI targets leading researchers in Ireland and overseas to promote the development of biotechnology, information and communications technology; and energy. SFI has specific research centers of excellence &#8211; hubs that draw researchers from all of Ireland’s universities together for research on specific themes.The U.S.-Ireland Research and Development Partnership (UIRDP), launched in 2006, is a unique initiative involving funding agencies across three jurisdictions: the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland (NI). Under the program, a ‘single-proposal, single-review’ mechanism is facilitated by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health in the United States, which accept submissions from tri-jurisdictional (U.S., Ireland, and NI) teams for existing funding programs. All proposals submitted under the auspices of UIRDP must have significant research involvement from researchers in all three jurisdictions. In 2015, the UIRDP program topics expanded to include agricultural research; and in 2019 cybersecurity research was also incorporated as a topic.A key aspect of government support is a tax credit on the cost of eligible research, development, and innovation (RDI) activity; and on buildings used for RDI activity. A tax credit of 25 percent is subject to certain conditions and is available for R&amp;D activities carried out in a wide variety of science and technology areas such as software development, engineering, food and beverage production, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, financial services; agriculture and horticulture. Some U.S. firms have already used these tax credits to build and operate R&amp;D facilities.The Irish government&#8217;s Knowledge Development Box (KDB), introduced in 2016, also offers a lower tax rate for certain R&amp;D activities carried out in Ireland.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										The government established Shannon duty-free Processing Zone under legislation in 1957. Firms operating in the area were at the time entitled to taxation and duty-free benefits not available elsewhere in Ireland. Nowadays, all firms in Ireland are treated equally and the Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) as it is now called, continues to operate albeit without any additional tax benefits.All firms operating in the SFZ area have the same investment opportunities and tax incentives as indigenous Irish companies. More than 150 companies operate within the 254-hectare business park.U.S. companies are located in SFZ include: Benex (Becton Dickinson), Connor-Winfield, Digital River, Enterasys Networks, Extrude Hone, GE Capital Aviation Services, GE Money, Sensing, Genworth Financial, Intel, Illinois Tool Works, Kwik-Lok, Lawrence Laboratories (Bristol Myers Squibb), Le Bas International, Magellan Aviation Services, Maidenform, Melcut Cutting Tools (SGS Carbide Tools), Mentor Graphics, Phoenix American Financial Services, RSA Security, Shannon Engine Support (CFM International), SPS International/Hi-Life Tools (Precision Castparts Corp), Sykes Enterprises, Symantec, Travelsavers Corp, Viking Pump, Western Well Tool, Xerox, and Zimmer Biomet.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										Visa, residence, and work permit procedures for foreign investors are non-discriminatory and, for U.S. citizens (as investors or employees), generally liberal. No restrictions exist on the numbers of, and duration of employment for, foreign managers brought in to supervise foreign investment projects, though all work permits must be renewed annually. There are no discriminatory export policies or import policies affecting foreign investors.																																				Data Storage										The government does not force data-localization, nor does it require foreign information technology providers to turn over source code and/or provide access to surveillance (e.g., backdoors into hardware and software, or encryption keys). There are no rules on maintaining minimum amounts of data storage in Ireland. Many U.S. firms already operate, and are planning for additional, data centers in Ireland. Future construction of new data centers may face additional planning restrictions particularly to access the power grid. In November 2021, Ireland’s energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), announced new requirements regarding location, energy consumption, and energy storage for future data centers connecting to the power grid. Existing data centers, core to the operations of U.S. companies, as well as planned data centers, need certainty on the ability to access the power grid as well of continuity of supply.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										The government recognizes and enforces secured interests in property, both chattel and real estate. The Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) administers a reliable system of recording such security interests through the Property Registration Authority (PRA) and Registry of Deeds. The PRA registers a person&#8217;s interest in property on a public register. All property buyers must since 2010 register their acquisition with the PRA.Ireland also operates a document registration system through the Registry of Deeds in which deeds (as distinct from titles) may be registered, priority obtained, and third parties placed on notice of the existence of documents of title. An efficient, non-discriminatory legal system is accessible to foreign investors to protect and facilitate acquisition and disposition of all property rights.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Ireland is not included on the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR’s) Special 301 Report or the Notorious Markets List.Ireland is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and party to many of its treaties, including the Berne Convention, the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the WIPO Copyright Treaty, and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.Legislation enacted in 2000 brought Irish intellectual property rights (IPR) law into compliance with Ireland&#8217;s obligations under the WTO Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. The legislation gave Ireland one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks for IPR protection in Europe. It also addressed several TRIPs inconsistencies in prior Irish copyright law that had concerned foreign investors, including the absence of a rental right for sound recordings, the lack of an anti-bootlegging provision, and low criminal penalties that failed to deter piracy. The legislation provides for stronger penalties on both the civil and criminal sides, but it does not include minimum mandatory sentencing for IPR violations. As part of this comprehensive legislation, revisions were also made to non-TRIPS conforming sections of Irish patent law.Specifically, the IPR legislation addressed two outstanding concerns of many foreign investors in the previous legislation:The compulsory licensing provisions of the previous 1992 Patent Law were inconsistent with the &#8220;working&#8221; requirement prohibition of TRIPs Articles 27.1 and the general compulsory licensing provisions of Article 31; and,Applications processed after December 20, 1991, did not previously conform to the non-discrimination requirement of TRIPs Article 27.1.High taxation on tobacco products makes illegal trade in counterfeit and untaxed cigarettes highly lucrative. The government continues to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes smuggled into the country by international and local organized criminal groups. Ireland became the first European country, and fourth globally, to enact legislation on plain packaging for tobacco products via The Public Health (Standardized Packaging of Tobacco) Act in 2015. In practice, all tobacco packaging is devoid of branding, and health warnings cover nearly the entire box with only the producer/product name otherwise visible. The legislation has been in force since September 2018.The Irish government has transcribed the 2012 EU Copyright and Related Rights Regulations into law. This legislation makes it possible for copyright holders to seek court injunctions against firms, such as internet service providers (ISPs) or social networks, whose systems host copyright-infringing material. Irish courts ensure any remedy provided will uphold the freedom of ISPs to conduct their business. The legislation ensures that the government cannot mandate any ISP to carry out monitoring of information. The legislation also ensures that measures implemented are “fair and proportionate” and not “unnecessarily complicated or costly.” The law also states that the Courts must respect the fundamental rights of ISP customers, including the customers’ right to protection of personal data and the freedom to receive or impart information.The government enacted the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Act in 2019. The legislation improves provision for copyright and other IPR protection in the digital era, and its enables rights holders to better enforce their IPR in the courts.Ireland implemented the EU’s 2019 Copyright in the Digital Single Market directive in November 2021.For additional information about Ireland’s legislation and IP points of contact, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/details.jsp?country_code=IE 																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Capital markets and portfolio investments operate freely with no discrimination between Irish and foreign firms. In some instances, development authorities and commercial banks facilitate loan packages to foreign firms with favorable credit terms. All loans are offered on market terms. There was limited credit available, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), after the financial crisis of 2008. Bank balance sheets have since improved with lending levels increasing as the health of the economy improved. The government established the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to ensure SMEs had access to credit available at market terms. Irish legal, regulatory, and accounting systems are transparent and consistent with international norms and provide a secure environment for portfolio investment. The current capital gains tax rate is 33 percent (since December 2012).In 2018, Euronext, an EU-based grouping of stock exchange operators acquired and operates the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE), now known as Euronext Dublin.																																				Money and Banking System										The Irish banking sector, like many worldwide, came under intense pressure in 2007 and 2008 following the collapse of Ireland’s construction industry and the end of Ireland’s property boom. Several of Ireland’s financial lenders were severely under-capitalized and required government bailouts to survive. The government, fearing a flight of private investments, introduced temporary guarantees (still in operation) to personal depositors in 2008 to ensure that deposits remained in Ireland. Anglo Irish Bank (Anglo), a bank heavily involved in construction and property lending, failed and was resolved by the government. The government subsequently took majority stakes in several other lenders; effectively nationalized two banks; and acquired a significant proportion of a third. The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), established in 2009, acquired most of the property-related loan books of the Irish banks (including Anglo) at a fraction of their book value.The government, with its increased exposure to bank debts and a rising budget deficit, had difficulty in placing sovereign debt on international bond markets following the 2008 economic crash. Ireland sought and got assistance from the Troika (International Monetary Fund (IMF), EU and European Central Bank (ECB)) in November 2010. A rescue package of $110 (€85) billion, with $88 (€67.5) billion of this provided by the Troika, was agreed to cover government deficits and costs related to the bank recapitalizations.The government then took effective control of Allied Irish Bank (AIB), following a further recapitalization by the end of 2010. The government took into state control, and then resolved, two building societies, Irish Nationwide Building Society and Educational Building Society. The government helped re-capitalize Irish Life and Permanent (the banking portion of which was spun off and now operates under the name Permanent TSB); and the Bank of Ireland (BOI).Irish banks were forced to deleverage their non-core assets in line with Troika bailout program recommendations and were effectively limited to service domestic banking demand. BOI succeeded in remaining non-nationalized by realizing capital from the sale of non-essential portfolios and by imposing some targeted burden sharing with some of its bondholders. The government exited its stake in BOI in 2022. The government also signaled its to fully sell off its AIB shareholding but still retains a 57 percent holding, as of March 2023.Soon after it exited the Troika program in 2013, Ireland re-entered sovereign debt markets. International financing rates continued to fall to record lows for Irish debt, and Ireland was able to fully repay all of its IMF loans by securing bond sales at less expensive rates. Ireland also paid off some bilateral loans extended to it by Denmark and Sweden ahead of schedule in 2017. Currently, Ireland is placing its sovereign debt at very low interest rates in line with other nations.Ireland’s retail banking sector rebounded from the crisis and is now healthy and well capitalized in line with ECB rules on bank capitalizations. The stock of non-performing loans on bank balance sheets remains high; and banks continue to divest themselves of these loans through bundle sales to investors. There are now just three main retail banks operating in Ireland. Ulster Bank, part of the UK-based NatWest Banking group and Ireland’s third largest retail bank, announced will withdraw from retail banking during 2023. KBC Bank also announced its withdrawal of services in Ireland and will exit by mid-2023. The move by the two banks has created unprecedented demand for new accounts with the remaining banks. The two banks sold off portfolios of loan books and mortgages, but up to a million customers will need to find an alternative bank for daily business and credit card facilities.The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) is responsible for both central banking and financial regulation. The CBI is a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), whose primary objective is to maintain price stability in the eurozone.There are many U.S. banks with operations in Ireland, some of whom are located in Dublin’s International Financial Services Center (IFSC). The IFSC originally functioned somewhat like a business park for financial services firms. U.S. banks located in Ireland provide a range of financial services to clients in Europe and worldwide. These firms include State Street, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, and Northern Trust. The regulation of the international banks operating throughout Ireland falls under the jurisdiction of the CBI.Ireland is part of the eurozone, and therefore does not have an independent monetary policy. The ECB formulates and implements monetary policy for the eurozone and the CBI implements that policy at the national level. The Governor of the CBI is a member of the ECB&#8217;s Governing Council and has an equal say as other ECB governors in the formulation of eurozone monetary and interest rate policy. The CBI also issues euro currency in Ireland, acts as manager of the official external reserves of gold and foreign currency, conducts research and analysis on economic and financial matters, oversees the domestic payment and settlement systems, and manages investment assets on behalf of the State.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Ireland uses the euro as its national currency and enjoys full current and capital account liberalization. Foreign exchange is easily available at market rates. Ireland is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).						Remittance Policies						There are no restrictions or significant reported delays in the conversion or repatriation of investment capital, earnings, interest, or royalties, nor are there any announced plans to change remittance policies. Likewise, there are no limitations on the import of capital into Ireland.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) is the asset management bureau of the government. NTMA is responsible for day-to-day funding for government operations normally through the sale of sovereign debt worldwide. NTMA is also responsible for investing Irish government funds, such as the national pension funds, in financial instruments worldwide.Ireland suspended issuing sovereign debt upon entering the Troika bailout program in 2010 but has been successfully placing Irish debt since Ireland’s 2013 exit from the Troika program,The NTMA also has oversight of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), the agency established to take on, and dispose of, the property-related loan books of Ireland’s bailed-out banks.The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) established in 2014 has the statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. The dual objective mandate of the ISIF – investment return and economic impact – requires all its investments to generate returns as well as having a positive (i.e., job-creating) economic impact in Ireland. The ISIF has assisted some small and medium sized enterprises during Ireland’s economic revival.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						There are State-Owned Enterprises (SOE)s in Ireland operating in the energy, broadcasting, and transportation sectors.Eirgrid is the SOE with responsibility of managing and operating the electricity grid on the island of Ireland. (Eirgrid has a sister company SONI in Northern Ireland). There are two energy SOEs – Electric Ireland (for electricity) and Ervia (for natural gas). Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE) operates the national broadcasting (radio and television) service while Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) provides bus and train transportation throughout the country. Ervia, previously known as Bord Gáis or Bord Gáis Éireann, is a multi-utility company distributing pipeline natural gas, water services and dark fibre services in Ireland.The government privatized both Eircom (the national telecommunication service) and Aer Lingus (the national airline). CIE remains wholly owned by the government. Irish Water (which operates as a subsidiary of Ervia) began operations in 2013 to serve as the state-owned entity delivering water services (previously delivered by local authorities) to homes and businesses. New residential water charges (previously funded from general government revenue) were introduced by Irish Water in 2015 and subsequently suspended in 2016. Irish Water continues to deliver water services with the cost of domestic water supplies paid by the government.All of Ireland’s SOEs are open to competition for market share and can, as in the case of Electric Ireland and Ervia, compete with one another. The SOEs do not discriminate against, or place unfair burdens on, foreign investors or foreign-owned investments. There has been a statutory transfer of responsibility for the regulatory functions for the energy sector from the government to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. This statutory body is required to not discriminate unfairly between participants in the sector, while protecting the end-user.SOEs generally pay their own way, finance their operating costs; and fund further expansion through profits generated from their own operations. Some SOEs pay an annual dividend to the government. A board of directors usually governs a SOE with some of these directors appointed by the government.																										Privatization Program										Ireland does not have a formal privatization program, but the government agreed in 2010, as part of the Troika program, to privatize some of its state-owned and semi state-owned enterprises. The government nominated but has not yet sold some non-strategic elements of Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Eireann, the gas supply company). The government indicated that it may sell the electricity generating arm of Electric Ireland, an electricity supply company, but has not yet done so.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						A growing awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Ireland is mainly driven by independent organizations and multinational corporations. According to “Business in the Community–Ireland,” an organization at the forefront of promoting CSR in Ireland, many of the participant firms believe CSR-oriented policies can play a major role in rebuilding Ireland&#8217;s corporate reputation. Companies advertise their participation in such programs as the Fairtrade Certification Mark. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland also released its own report documenting the widespread CSR efforts of U.S.-affiliate firms in the country.The government promotes responsible business conduct in Ireland. Its national action plan “Towards Responsible Business – Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017- 2020&#8243; aims to support businesses in Ireland to create sustainable jobs; embed responsible practices in the marketplace; embrace diversity and promote responsible workplaces; and encourage enterprises to consider their businesses’ impacts on the environment. It gives effect to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and sets out the Irish government’s commitments to promoting responsible business practice at home and overseas. DETE maintains a web page  www.csrhub.ie  for information on all aspects of CSR in Ireland.Ireland, as an adherent to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, established a National Contact Point (NCP) responsible for promoting CSR/RBC and facilitating mediation when complaints arise regarding a company not observing the Guidelines. Contact information for the NCP is:  https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Trade-Investment/OECD-Guidelines-NCP/ Additional ResourcesDepartment of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; Trafficking in Persons Report; Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities; U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; and; Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory Department of the Treasury OFAC Recent Actions Department of Labor Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ; List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ; Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World  and; Comply Chain .																										Climate Issues										The government released its Climate Action Plan in 2021 which detailed the actions required to achieve a 51 percent emissions reduction target by 2030 and a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, as set out in the Climate Act 2021.  The plan is updated annually to ensure alignment with Ireland’s legally binding economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings.  The Climate Action Plan lays out sector specific targets to achieve these goals, with the largest reduction slated to come from the energy sector (62-81 percent reduction).  Some of the actions outlined in the action plan to meet the energy decarbonization targets include a review of policy for large energy users, such as data centers, incentivizing demand side flexibility, and developing supportive policies for wind, solar, and micro generation.Security of energy supply continues to be an issue in Ireland which has been further complicated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ireland is highly dependent on imports of oil and natural gas. While renewable energy, mainly from onshore wind turbines, is growing, Ireland must still import gas, through two interconnectors from the UK. Eirgrid, the national grid operator, said Ireland could face electricity shortages over the next five winters unless base load production (from gas or coal) is increased to ensure that intermittent supply from renewables is supplemented.The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and the IDA have highlighted the importance of Ireland’s green credentials and climate improvement plans in attracting future investment from international financial services firms.  The IDA said Ireland aims to be a global leader for green or sustainable finance.  The government say sustainable finance remains “a top priority” within the government’s financial services agenda, and Ireland was “uniquely positioned” to benefit from significant global investment in fintech due to its proven track record for foreign direct investment; entrepreneurial culture, and the existing number of international financial services firms already located in Ireland.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Corruption is not a serious problem for foreign investors in Ireland. The principal Irish legislation relating to anti-bribery and corruption is the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act of 2018. The Act consolidates all previous legislation for the prevention of corruption. The legislation makes it illegal for Irish public servants to accept bribes. The Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, provides for the written annual disclosure of interests of people holding public office or employment.The law on corruption in Ireland gives effect in domestic law to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and other conventions concerning criminal corruption and corruption involving officials of the European Union and officials of EU member states. Irish legislation ensures there are strong penalties in place with prison terms of up to ten years and an ‘unlimited’ fine, for those found guilty of offenses under the Act, including convictions of bribery of foreign public officials by Irish nationals and companies that takes place outside of Ireland.Irish police (An Garda Siochana, or Garda) investigate all allegations of corruption. The Director of Public Prosecutions is responsible for preparing files for prosecution, on detection of sufficient evidence of criminal activity. The government has, in the past, convicted a small number of public officials for corruption and/or bribery. In 1996, Ireland established the Criminal Asset Bureau (CAB), an independent body responsible for seizing illegally acquired assets. CAB has the powers to focus on the illegally acquired assets of criminals involved in organized crime by identifying criminally acquired assets of persons and taking the appropriate action to deny such people of these assets. Any CAB action is primarily taken through the application of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 legislation. Ireland is a member of the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN).UN Anticorruption Convention, OECD Convention on Combatting BriberyIreland signed the UN Convention on Corruption in December 2003 and ratified it in 2011. Ireland is also a participating member of the OECD Working Group on Bribery.Resources to Report CorruptionGovernment agency responsible for combating corruption:Department of Justice and Equality, Crime and Security Directorate94 St. Stephen&#8217;s GreenDublin 2Telephone: + 353 1 602-8202E-mail: info@justice.ieWebsite:  www.justice.ie Contact at Transparency International:John DevittChief ExecutiveTransparency InternationalFloor 269 Middle Abbey StDublin 2Telephone: +353 1 554 3938E-mail: Admin@transparency.ie																																		10. Political and Security Environment						    																						There has been no significant spillover of violence from Northern Ireland since the ceasefires of 1994 and the signing and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in 1998. The cessation of violence in Northern Ireland led to increased business investment and confidence in Northern Ireland which also benefited Ireland. The GFA designated funding to develop cross-border cooperation on R&amp;D collaboration, create energy and transportation infrastructure linkages, and for participation in joint trade missions. No violence related to the situation in Northern Ireland has been specifically directed at U.S. citizens or firms located in Ireland.																										Other Acts of Political Violence										There have been some incidents of criminal terrorism and gangland violence attributed to cross-border groups believed to be involved in the black market. There is considerable Garda and Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) cooperation to stem any illegal activity.There have been no recent incidents involving politically motivated damage to foreign investment projects and/or installations in Ireland. There were some instances of damage to U.S. military assets transiting Shannon Airport in 2003 and later in 2011 by a small number of Irish citizens opposed to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2017, two anti-war activists defaced a U.S. aircraft with graffiti. The Garda arrested two peace protesters as they attempted to gain illegal access to Shannon airport runways in 2019. Other than these incidences of anti-military acts, there have been no acts against U.S. firms or private interests in Ireland.																																												11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						Ireland’s population was recorded by the census at 5.123 million in April 2022, the first time that a census has recorded a population of over five million people in over 170 years. Since Census 2016, the average annual population increase was 1.2 percent. Net migration since 2016 averaged 31,722 persons per annum. The total number of persons employed in 2022 reached a record 2.57 million in 2022, while the unemployment rate is currently at 4.3 percent (February 2023). The Central Bank of Ireland expects the labor market to be tight until at least 2025. Employment opportunities continue to attract inward migrations particularly for employees with language skills.The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it three lockdowns of the economy in 2020 and the COVID-19 adjusted unemployment rate for Ireland stood at 27 percent (with an underlying unemployment rate of 7.2 percent) in February 2021. The government at the time introduced temporary COVID-19 unemployment measures which maintained links between employees and businesses and allowed businesses keep work forces reasonably intact.Average weekly earnings increased by 4.2 percent in 2022. During the year, average industrial earnings increased by 2.8 percent to 1,009 euro ($1,062) per week. The government mandated minimum wage rate was increased by 0.80 euro to 11.30 euro ($12.80) per hour from January 2023, with lower rates set for younger and less experienced workers.The government regulates the Irish labor force less than governments in most continental EU countries. The 2.687 million workforce has a high degree of flexibility, mobility, and education. There is relative gender balance in the workforce with the employment rate for males aged 15-64 years at 78 percent compared to 68.5 percent for females. The gender balance reflects a societal change and government support that facilitated a surge in female employment from the mid-1980s. There are no restrictions on the hiring of non-national labor, and many firms, especially in the technology sector, hire young professionals with a diverse range of language and technology skills.Ireland, since the mid-1990&#8217;s, is an attractive destination for foreign investment due to the availability of a young, highly-educated workforce. The removal of tuition fees for third level (university) education in 1995 resulted in a rapid increase of third-level qualified graduates. While tuition fees are paid by the government, students must still pay registration fees. The government said these fees which were capped at 3,000 euro ($ 3,200) in 2021/2022, will be reduced over the next few years but not fully removed. The registration fee reduced to €2,000 ($2,134) in the 2022/2023 academic year. The availability of highly educated and qualified potential employees in Ireland is an attractive feature for employers looking to locate in the EU and has been a significant factor in attracting the already large number of multinational companies located in Ireland. Over 60 percent of new third-level students in Ireland undertake business, engineering, computer science, or science courses. The focus of government strategy has shifted to upgrading skills and increasing the number of workers in technology-intensive, high-value sectors to ensure the availability of an educated workforce.The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced mass teleworking to Ireland. The huge change in work practice came almost overnight and despite the immense change, workers and their employers seem to have adapted well. Key to Ireland’s teleworking success was the access to good broadband services. Adequate broadband is already available in most urban areas while the government’s national broadband plan to bring high speed broadband to all areas is still rolling out. It is likely that these plans may be accelerated to get earlier delivery of broadband services in more rural parts of the island. The government is to introduce legislation, Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 which will give employees rights to seek remote working opportunities from their employers. Currently many employers have adapted a hybrid working schedule with many staff working two or three of the five working days from home.The Irish system of industrial relations is voluntary. Employers and employees generally agree on pay levels and conditions of employment through collective bargaining. There are generally good industrial relationships and very few industrial disputes. Labor disputes are rare. A series of agreements between the government and public service labor unions in place since 2010 have in general reduced public service labor disputes. Those agreements also include pay increases linked to productivity measures.Employers typically resist trade union demands for mandatory trade/labor union recognition in the workplace. While the Irish Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to form associations and unions, Irish law also affirms the right of employers to withhold union recognition and to deal with employees on an individual basis. One quarter of all workers are unionized but there is much higher participation by public sector workers in unions. The government estimates up to 80 percent of workers in foreign-owned firms do not belong to unions. This may reflect more attractive pay, benefits, and conditions by these employers compared with domestic firms. DETE explicitly addressed the country’s collective bargaining rights through an amendment of existing legislation in the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has been authorized since 1986 (then as OPIC) to operate in Ireland, as part of the U.S. effort to support the process of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. No other countries have an investment insurance program in Ireland. Ireland is also a member of the World Bank Group&#8217;s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2021504,165Local Source: https://www.cso.ieForeign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)2021556,599BEA Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)2021269,429BEA Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDP2021270%UNCTAD data &nbsp;* Source for Host Country Data: Central Statistics OfficeNote: Host countries FDI inbound and outbound data are not shown as the data relate to 2020Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDIDirect Investment from/in Counterpart Economy Data &#8211; 2021From Top Five Sources/To Top Five Destinations (US Dollars, Millions)Inward Direct InvestmentOutward Direct InvestmentTotal Inward1,368,425100%Total Outward1,459,332100%United States479,47535.0%Luxembourg559,02838.3%Bermuda183,80113.4%United States318,99821.9%Luxembourg149,92911.0%United Kingdom114,996 7.9%Netherlands139,31210.2%Netherlands  98,457 6.7%Switzerland102,148 7.6%Isle of Man  89,495 6.1%&#8220;0&#8221; reflects amounts rounded to +/- USD 500,000.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Anood TaquiEconomic Affairs ChiefAmerican Embassy, Dublin, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-630 6274Email: dublinpeo@state.gov																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											Gabon											The Gambia											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Brexit and its Implications for Ireland																																																						Industrial Promotion																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																							Bilateral or Multilateral Taxation Treaties and Agreements																																																			3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																						Data Storage																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																10. Political and Security Environment																																							Other Acts of Political Violence																																																			11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs																								Ireland
- The United States Adds Foreign Companies to Entity List for Malicious Cyber Activities Office of the SpokespersonToday, the U.S. government added four foreign commercial spyware entities to the Entity List for engaging in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.Intellexa S.A. in Greece, Intellexa Limited in Ireland, Cytrox AD in North Macedonia, and Cytrox Holdings Crt in Hungary were added to the Entity List based on a determination that the companies engaged in trafficking in cyber exploits used to gain access to information systems, threatening the privacy and security of individuals and organizations worldwide.The proliferation of commercial spyware poses distinct and growing counterintelligence and security risks to the United States, including to the safety and security of U.S. government personnel and their families. The misuse of these tools globally has also facilitated repression and enabled human rights abuses, including to intimidate political opponents and curb dissent, limit freedom of expression, and monitor and target activists and journalists.Today’s action is part of a government-wide effort to counter the risks posed by commercial spyware.  It is consistent with steps announced in March around the Summit for Democracy including the issuance of an Executive Order to Prohibit U.S. Government Use of Commercial Spyware that Poses Risks to National Security; the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware; and Guiding Principles on Government Use of Surveillance Technologies.  The addition of these entities builds on past U.S. government listings of commercial spyware companies.Together, these actions demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to and leadership on countering the misuse of commercial spyware and other surveillance technology. They complement bipartisan legislation by the U.S. Congress aimed at stemming the proliferation and misuse of these tools. As part of its commitment to put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy, the United States is working to counter the proliferation and misuse of digital tools used for repression. This effort is aimed at improving citizens’ digital security, combating cyber threats, and mitigating unlawful surveillance.For more information about these designations, please see the Department of Commerce’s press release.
- Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Lapenn’s Travel to Ireland Office of the SpokespersonAmbassador Jessye Lapenn, Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, will travel to Dublin, Ireland on July 4, 2023.Ambassador Lapenn will lead the U.S. delegation attending the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, hosted by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission, and Ireland’s Marine Institute. NOAA Assistant Administrator for Research and Galway co-chair, Steve Thur, Ph.D, will join Ambassador Lapenn in Dublin and then lead the U.S. delegation to related meetings in Galway.The United States was an original signatory of the Galway Statement, along with Canada and the European Union. The Statement launched a decade of marine research cooperation along and across the Atlantic Ocean that continues under the auspices of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) and now includes the European Union, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cabo Verde, Morocco, South Africa, and the United States.Through the initiative for Atlantic Cooperation, led by Ambassador Lapenn, the United States is working to collaborate with countries north, south, east, and west of the Atlantic Ocean to address our shared economic, security, and environmental concerns. Marine research collaboration, including through the Galway Statement and AAORIA, is essential to understand this important resource and to advance this initiative.
- Ireland HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Ireland				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ireland																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution provides for freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. It references Jesus Christ and God and stipulates the state shall respect religion. The law forbids incitement of others to hatred based on religion. Under the constitution, the state funds privately-owned-and-managed primary schools, most of which are affiliated with religious groups, including 90 percent affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.There were continued reports that some school authorities in national Catholic schools continued to give preferential treatment to students for participating in religious activities and told parents that, contrary to law, their children could not opt out of religion classes. Thirteen government-funded multidenominational national schools opened during the year. In January, Atheist Ireland filed a complaint with the government alleging the Department of Education misused public funds by allocating them to schools that did not comply with the constitutional requirement to allow children to attend state-funded schools without attending religious instruction and asked the United Nations to raise the issue with the government. In September, a court held in contempt a teacher who violated the court’s order not to enter his school’s campus until he complied with the school’s request to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns; the teacher said doing so went against the teaching of the Church of Ireland. In October, the government reintroduced a bill, pending before parliament at year’s end, that would make provision for hate crimes and impose a heavier penalty for offenses committed with a hate element based on, among other things, the religious identity of the victim; the bill remained pending at year’s end. In January, President Michael D. Higgins and other senior government officials participated in the National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration.The nongovernmental organization (NGO) Irish Network against Racism recorded 136 incidents of hate speech related to race and religion in 2022, compared with 113 in 2021; five of these incidents targeted Jews and four targeted Muslims. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), an independent statutory body, reported it received 29 complaints of employment discrimination based on religion or belief in 2021 (the latest data available), compared with 30 complaints in 2020. In September, in a report on anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe, University of Limerick academics stated discussions about Muslims that conflated religious beliefs with supporting terrorism were widespread in online spaces and that some discussions in mainstream Irish media had “the potential to stigmatize Muslim communities.” In September, the Ioana Institute for Religion and Society published a paper questioning whether, in the name of inclusivity, publicly funded Catholic schools were being pressured to adopt a “relativistic” approach that “implicitly teaches that no religious belief is objectively true, and therefore is not as respectful towards religious claims as it appears.” On July 9, approximately 1,000 Muslims performed prayers at an interfaith celebration to mark Eid al-Adha in Dublin’s Croke Park. Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish community leaders, as well as members of government, attended.U.S. embassy officials discussed issues of discrimination and the integration of religious minorities into the community with the government. Embassy officials met with religious groups, secularist advocates, and NGOs to discuss their concerns over religious tolerance, secularism, and religion in the national school system.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 5.3 million (midyear 2022).  According to the 2016 census, the most recent, the population is approximately 78 percent Catholic, 3 percent Church of Ireland (Anglican), 1 percent Muslim, 1 percent Orthodox Christian (including Greek, Russian, and Coptic Orthodox), 1 percent unspecified Christian, and 2 percent other religious groups, while 10 percent stated no religious affiliation, and 3 percent did not specify their religion.  There are small numbers of Presbyterians, Hindus, Apostolic Pentecostals, Pentecostals, and Jews.  The census estimates the Jewish population at 2,500.  The number of Christians and Muslims from sub-Saharan Africa, Muslims from North Africa and the Middle East, Muslims and Hindus from South Asia, and Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe continues to grow, especially in larger urban areas.  NGOs such as Atheist Ireland and the Humanists Association of Ireland report the census overestimates religious affiliation by asking “What is your religion?,” which, they say, was a leading question.  Boston University’s 2020 World Religions Database estimates 6.5 percent of the population is atheist or agnostic.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution provides for the free profession and practice of religion, subject to public order and morality. The constitution references “the Most Holy Trinity” and “our divine Lord, Jesus Christ” and stipulates the state shall hold the name of God in reverence and honor and respect religion. The constitution requires the President of the country, judges, and members of the Council of State to swear a religious oath, which begins with a reference to “Almighty God.” It prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief and states, “The State guarantees not to endow any religion.”The constitution stipulates every religious denomination has the right to manage its own affairs, own and acquire property, and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes. It prohibits the diversion of property of any religious denomination except for necessary works of public utility and upon payment of compensation. The constitution states legislation providing for government aid to schools shall not discriminate among schools under the management of different religious denominations nor affect the right of a child to attend any school receiving public money without attending religious instruction at that school.A “statement of truth” may be used in civil proceedings in place of affidavits and statutory declarations sworn on a religious oath. The document must contain a statement that the person making the statement of truth has an honest belief that the stated facts are true. Religious oaths or affirmations are still required when a witness is giving oral evidence in court. The statement of truth may not be used in criminal proceedings.The law forbids incitement of others to hatred based on religion, among other categories, and carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of €25,400 ($27,000). The law does not address or define hate crimes other than incitement of others, although a hate motive is an aggravating factor that judges may take into account on a discretionary basis at sentencing for any criminal offense.There is no legal requirement for religious groups to register with the government, nor is there any formal mechanism for government recognition of a religious group. Religious groups may apply to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (the tax authority) as a charity to receive tax exemptions, and the groups must operate exclusively for charitable purposes, which under the law may include “the advancement of religion.” The law requires all charitable organizations carrying out activities in the country to register with and provide certain information relating to their organization to the Charities Regulator, a government-appointed independent authority. The regulator maintains a public register of charitable organizations and ensures their compliance with the law. Organizations must apply their income and property solely toward the promotion of their main charitable object, as set out in their governing instruments (such as a constitution, memorandum and articles of association, deed of trust, or rules). There is no category for the advancement of nonreligious philosophical beliefs.Under the law, individual medical professionals may opt out of participating in certain legal procedures, such as abortion, on grounds of conscience. Institutions may not refuse to perform such procedures, however.Under the constitution, the Department of Education provides funding to privately owned-and-managed primary schools – most of which are affiliated with religious groups, particularly the Catholic Church – referred to as “national schools” or simply as primary schools. Most children receive their elementary-level education at these privately owned schools. The government pays most of the building and administrative costs, teachers’ salaries, and a set amount per pupil. Under the Employment Equality Act, institutions set up with the purpose of promoting religion are exempt from equality legislation in hiring when “those duties could not reasonably be performed by a person who does not have the relevant [religious] characteristic.”Denominational schools are under the patronage of a single religious community. They provide religious education according to traditions, practices, and beliefs of the specified religious community. Interdenominational schools are under the patronage or trusteeship of more than one faith community. Such schools provide for a variety of religious education opportunities. There are also two types of multidenominational schools at the primary school level: schools that provide education about religious beliefs but do not provide religious education as formation during the school day (parents/guardians may arrange for denominational religious education outside school hours in such schools); and schools that provide education about religions and also provide some faith formation for different denominations, depending on parental requests, during the school day.Patrons of national schools, who are usually members of the religious groups and are affiliated with religious organizations with which the school is associated, manage the schools themselves or appoint a board of management to do so. Patrons often provide land for schools and contribute to building and administrative costs.By law, Catholic national schools are not allowed to discriminate on religious grounds when making admissions decisions. According to the law, national schools under the patronage of other religious groups may discriminate in admissions on religious grounds to preserve their distinct religious identities, but only in schools that are oversubscribed. The law prohibits discrimination in admissions based on religious beliefs in secondary schools.In funding schools, the constitution stipulates the state shall have due regard “for the rights of parents, especially in the matter of religious and moral formation.” The government permits but does not require religious instruction, faith-based classes, or general religion classes in national schools. Although religious instruction is part of the curriculum of most schools, parents may exempt their children from such instruction. Religious schools teach about their religion, while multidenominational schools generally teach about religion in a broader context. Students may opt out and sit in a classroom where religious instruction is not being conducted. The Catholic Church certifies teachers of religion classes in Catholic schools.Approximately half of secondary schools are religiously affiliated. The government funds religiously affiliated secondary schools.Vocational schools are state run and nondenominational.The WRC hears cases of reported workplace discrimination, including claims based on religion. The WRC may refer cases for mediation, investigate these cases, or decide the case itself. If the adjudicating officer finds there has been discrimination, he or she may order compensation for the effects of discrimination and/or corrective action. Litigants may appeal WRC decisions in the courts.The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is an independent public body accountable to parliament whose stated purpose is to protect and promote human rights and equality and to build a culture of respect for human rights, including religious freedom. The commission works at the policy level to review the effectiveness of human rights and equality law, as well as public policy and practice. It also works with communities, including religious and other civil society groups, to monitor and report on the public’s experience of human rights, religious freedom, and equality.The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										During the year, school patrons, who are generally affiliated with religious denominations, continued to define the ethos of schools and to determine the development and implementation of the religious education curriculum in primary schools. Curricula varied by school and could include teaching about the patron’s religion, the religious history of the country, or an overview of world religions. Atheist Ireland continued to criticize the government for primarily delivering moral formation through religion and not offering students moral education outside of religion classes.Atheist Ireland and the media continued to report incidents of school authorities giving preferential treatment, such as homework exemptions, to students in national Catholic schools that engaged in activities such as singing in religious choirs or performing altar services in church. There were continued reports that some school authorities told parents that, contrary to law, their children could not opt out of religion classes; some schools did not offer supervised study time or another subject to students wishing to exercise their right to not attend religious instruction.The government stated it continued to facilitate patrons’ efforts to open more schools with multidenominational patronage. During the year, national schools were 90 percent Catholic, 6 percent Church of Ireland, 2 percent multidenominational, 1 percent other religious groups, and 1 percent not religiously affiliated. Thirteen new multidenominational national schools opened during the year as part of the government’s plan, announced in 2018, to facilitate the establishment of 42 schools – 26 primary and 16 secondary – from 2019 to 2022. The Department of Education said it considered parental preferences and projected demand when deciding which patrons would be allowed to sponsor the new schools. A separate process, the “Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity,” continued; it had the aim of accelerating the creation of multidenominational and nondenominational schools in the country, in line with parental preference and the government’s stated commitment to having a total of 400 multidenominational or nondenominational schools by 2030, out of approximately 3,300 public schools (i.e., 12 percent) in the country.On January 1, Atheist Ireland issued a statement saying the NGO had asked the United Nations to raise the issue of religious discrimination in national schools with the government “when it next questions Ireland on economic, social, and cultural rights.” Atheist Ireland stated, “Multidenominational schools are still religious schools. They do not respect the freedom of conscience of atheist families. Instead, we need nondenominational schools, which treat everyone equally and do not promote either religion or atheism.... [The government plan of] having 400 multidenominational schools would not solve the problem, as most parents would not be able to access these schools.” The statement said Catholic Church control over children’s education was “anachronistic” in what was now a pluralistic society.Atheist Ireland also reported that in January, it made a complaint to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Oireachtas (parliament) Committee on Public Accounts that said the Department of Education misused public funds by allocating them to schools that did not comply with the constitutional funding requirement to respect parental rights and to allow children to attend state-funded schools without attending religious instruction. In support of its complaint, Atheist Ireland cited the January 24 Supreme Court ruling in Burke vs. the Minister for Education. Burke held that government policy to substitute teacher-assessed grades in lieu of the secondary-level Leaving Certificate Examination during COVID-19 did not infringe on parents’ rights, but that the Department of Education had breached parental rights by translating the policy into an administrative scheme that de facto precluded home-schooled children, who did not receive grades, from qualifying for third-level advancement.In accordance with a 2011 government initiative to create more diversity and inclusiveness in the primary school system through a combination of divestment and construction of new schools, authorities transferred one school from Catholic patronage to the Education and Training Board (ETB) during the 2020/21 school year. The ETB managed and operated coeducational, multidenominational national schools, post-primary schools, and further education colleges.Parents and others continued to complain about the law forbidding Catholic national schools from taking students’ religion into account when making admissions decisions while allowing other national schools to continue to do so. They said the government should give assurances that when a Catholic parish or diocese divested a school, students whose parents wished them to receive a Catholic education would get priority at schools remaining under Catholic patronage.In rural areas, parents continued to report that finding non-Catholic national schools was difficult.Catholic religious orders remained affiliated with 20 of the country’s 45 hospitals.In September, media reported police arrested Enoch Burke, who had ignored a court order that prohibited him from entering his school’s campus. Burke, who taught history, politics, and German at the Church of Ireland’s diocesan school for Meath and Kildare, had refused the school’s request to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns, saying that doing so went against the teaching of the Church of Ireland. A court sent Burke to prison for contempt until such time as he agreed to comply with the court order. Burke said, “It is insanity that I will be led from this courtroom to a place of incarceration, but I will not give up my Christian beliefs.”Several state agencies, including IHREC, WRC, and the police’s National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU), continued to enforce equality legislation and work on behalf of minority religious groups. According to GNDIU representatives, GNDIU’s liaison officers continued to engage regularly with immigrant minority religious groups to inform them of police services and to educate them on their rights. These groups included the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, Federation for Victim Assistance, Garda Traveller advisory group, and Immigrant Council of Ireland.During the year, the National Police Service continued to implement initiatives contained in the 2019-21 Diversity and Integration Strategy that focused on improving the identification, reporting, investigation, and prosecution of hate crimes, including those based on religion. The service’s official website further clarified, “Religion includes ‘non-believers’.” The National Police Service declared it remained “committed to keeping all communities, including religious groups, safe through active engagement.” During the year, authorities began developing a combined equality, diversity, and inclusion strategy for 2023-25 that would “encompass both internal and external objectives” for the police force to promote inclusive culture and value individual differences, including religious differences, “in the service of an increasingly diverse society.” The strategy was nearing completion as of year’s end.NGOs, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Antiracism Network Ireland, National Steering Group against Hate Crime, and European Network against Racism Ireland, as well as IHREC, again advocated better monitoring of hate crimes, including religiously motivated incidents, as well as legislation against hate crimes, more stringent laws against hate speech, and action to ensure authorities took prejudice into account as an aggravating factor in sentencing criminals.In October, the government reintroduced hate crime legislation (originally put forward in April), which was pending before Parliament at year’s end, to establish a category of hate crimes and impose a heavier penalty on an offender whose commission of a relevant offense was accompanied by a hate motive against an individual based on numerous factors, including religion. There was broad support for the legislation among NGOs. In October, the Coalition against Hate Crime Ireland, representing 21 civil society organizations, expressed support for the legislation and called for a comprehensive national action plan alongside it to include education and awareness raising, improved monitoring, reporting, and data gathering, and improved victim support. On November 2, however, the Catholic Herald published an article saying the proposed legislation was overly broad and could lead to the criminalization of religious beliefs and church teaching. The article stated, “The Catholic Church has long-standing objective positions on issues, which, if they are to be uttered in public (and that may include the pulpit), may cause the priest or other adherent to be made subject to prosecution.”On January 30, President Michael D. Higgins and other senior government officials participated in the National Holocaust Day Memorial commemoration. In his remarks, Higgins cautioned against “consigning the horrors of the Holocaust to the past” and said that antisemitism, racism, and intolerance were once again on the rise in many parts of the world.” The NGO Holocaust Education Trust Ireland, in association with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, and the Dublin City Council, organized the event, which included readings, survivors’ remembrances, and music, as well as the lighting of six candles symbolizing the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.The country is a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															The NGO Irish Network against Racism recorded 600 incidents of racism in 2022.  These included 136 incidents of hate speech related to race and religion (compared with 113 in 2021 and 334 in 2020), of which five targeted Jews and four targeted Muslims (compared with 3 and 2, respectively, in. 2021).  Seven reports concerned hate speech against a wide range of ethnic minority and migrant groups.  The NGO stated most victims of religious discrimination and racist incidents did not report them to the police, as they were not aware it was an offence, and attributed the drop-off in numbers of hate speech incidents from 2020 to 2021/2022 to underreporting.In September, the Austria-based Leopold Weiss Institute published a report, European Islamophobia Report 2021.  In it, authors Louise Ryan and James Carr of the University of Limerick, stated, “Problematic reporting practices continue in mainstream Irish media, including those with the potential to stigmatize Muslim communities.  The conflation of religious beliefs and supporting terrorism are widespread in online spaces... Simultaneously, a growth in fringe media outlets demonstrates significant anti-Muslim sentiment.”  The authors stated there were multiple incidents in 2021 of Muslim women being harassed for wearing the hijab.  There were instances of religion teachers in schools making anti-Muslim statements.The WRC reported it received 29 complaints of employment discrimination based on religion or belief in 2021 (the latest statistics available), compared with 30 in 2020.In September, the Ioana Institute for Religion and Society published a paper by theologian and institute chair Dr. John Murray, Will Modern Ireland Tolerate Catholic Schools?  In it, Murray questioned whether, in the name of inclusivity, publicly funded Catholic schools were being pressured to adopt a “relativistic” approach, teaching Catholic principles such as “‘Jesus is Lord’ as a belief that some people happen to have.”  Murray stated, “The attraction of this approach is that it is seems to be tolerant towards everyone.  But critically, it implicitly teaches that no religious belief is objectively true, and therefore is not as respectful towards religious claims as it appears.”  Murray stated Catholicism should “not to be imposed on any pupil, and, even regarding Catholic pupils, it should always be a matter in Catholic schools of proposing the faith rather than imposing it,” and that the right of students to opt-out of religion classes should be respected.  He concluded, however, that it was “a distinctive part of Catholic ethics to hold that some moral norms are absolute,” and “Catholic schools must be allowed to be true to their ethos.... In fact, Ireland cannot be truly inclusive and respectful of diversity and our need for mutual respect in society if we force Catholic schools to be Catholic in name only.”On July 9, approximately 1,0000 Muslims performed prayers to mark Eid al-Adha in Dublin’s Croke Park.  Shaykh Umar al-Qadri, chair of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, organized the event, in cooperation with the Gaelic Athletic Association.  Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish community leaders as well as members of government attended.  During his sermon, al-Qadri said the event was “a celebration, an annual message from Ireland to the whole world that in this small corner of Europe, at least, we remain together despite our differences&#8230;and that we choose hope not hate.”																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															U. S. embassy officials discussed issues of discrimination and the integration of religious minorities into the community with the government. Embassy officials also met with representatives of religious groups, including members of the Muslim and Jewish communities, secularist advocates, including Atheist Ireland, and NGOs to discuss their concerns regarding religious tolerance, secularism, and religion in the national school system.																																				    							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- Special Online Briefing with Joseph Kennedy III, Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joseph Kennedy III, Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic AffairsBureau of European and Eurasian AffairsBrussels Media Hub MODERATOR:  Good afternoon from the State Department’s Brussels Media Hub.  I would like to welcome everyone joining us for today’s virtual press briefing.  We are very honored to be joined by Joseph Kennedy III, the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.   You can notify us of any technical difficulties at TheBrusselsHub – that’s one word – @state.gov.  And finally, a reminder that today’s briefing is on the record.   With that, let’s get started.  Special Envoy Kennedy, thank you so much for joining us today.  I’ll turn it over to you for opening remarks.   MR KENNEDY:  Hi, everybody.  John, thank you, and I want to thank everybody for taking a moment to join us, at least for me anyway, this morning.  John, wondering if you just can confirm that you can hear me before I go off too far down the &#8212;  MODERATOR:  Yes, sir, we can hear you.  MR KENNEDY:  Okay, great.  Thanks.  So again, thanks, everybody, for making the time this morning.  I am back from an incredible 11 days or so in Northern Ireland.  It was a whirlwind trip and exciting, invigorating, and really powerful.  I wanted to share a couple of takeaways with everybody.  So first, and most importantly, I wanted to begin by underscoring the importance that lasting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland means for the United States.  You heard President Biden make that case very clear at Ulster University in his speech, where he said that Northern Ireland’s future is America’s future.  So as we develop economic opportunities and investment from communities across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, we all work to cement the hard-fought gains of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, promote that lasting peace, and build prosperity for generations that will come. I had the extraordinary privilege of seeing firsthand the importance of those issues when I was with President Biden and accompanied him on that trip to Belfast a few weeks ago.  We had an incredible time.  Again, I was there for nearly two weeks, met with a number of key American businesses like Allstate, Seagate, Rapid7  We met with innovation hubs and catalysts in Ormeau Baths.  We saw incredible innovators at AMP in Derry and Londonderry.  We heard about the opportunities that are – exist in Northern Ireland across the board, the excitement, the energy, the – saw firsthand the talent that is there and eager to engage and build some of those opportunities going forward.   My role as special envoy is to try to build on that incredibly bright future in the region by promoting stronger economic engagement and people-to-people ties.  Luckily, it is a very straightforward case for me to make.  I think as many of you know, there’s already over 230 American businesses that are now operating and doing business in Northern Ireland that employ over 30,000 people.  The United States is Northern Ireland’s largest source market for high-value foreign direct investment, predominantly in emerging high-value sectors.  Over the last decade, political stability has drawn nearly $2 billion of investment from the United States alone, and today Northern Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of cybersecurity employment in Europe because it is the top investment location for U.S. firms working in that field outside the United States.   The second big takeaway, or along with that first, is that all of this success has been made possible by the people of Northern Ireland.  It was a, as I said, wonderful visit across the entire region, from city center out to Derry and Londonderry, visiting a few sites with my family.  My wife and two young children accompanied me on most of the visit.  And you saw this – we all saw this firsthand.  It was obvious that Northern Ireland – and the statistics bear this out – the happiest region – consistently voted as the happiest region in the UK and has the lowest crime rate.  It boasts the fact that they have almost full employment.  And skills have built from strength to strength, and the number of active people with degrees has doubled over the past several – well, in past decades.   Northern Ireland is home for more than 1,200 international companies, and critically, over 70 percent of them, after they invest once, they reinvest in the region.  And critically important is, again, that talent where you see that Queen’s University Belfast is ranked number one in the UK for its entrepreneurial impact.   Folks, if there was a seminal takeaway message for me, it’s that this is a place that is energized, is resilient, it is capable, and they are excited for the opportunities and challenges before it.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to champion the people of Northern Ireland, the region of Northern Ireland, make sure that it is on the radar of U.S. companies and primed for investment, and I’m happy to say that it already is from a number of conversations that I’ve had before my visit and certainly after.  I look forward to working with those leaders here in the United States, those already in Northern Ireland for – over the course of the next weeks and months and hopefully years to come to ensure that we are able to fully take advantage of an extraordinary opportunity.  And that’s it from me, so thanks very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.  I appreciate those opening remarks.  We will now turn to the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  We’ll go to a pre-submitted question from Ellen Milligan, Bloomberg in the UK.  “Which industries in Northern Ireland are U.S. investors keen to invest in, and will investment come regardless of the political stalemate or is that having a chilling effect?” MR KENNEDY:  Ms. Milligan, thank you for the question.  I think across the board, from a number of different American executives that I’ve spoken with from a number of different industries, one, they are aware of the opportunity in Northern Ireland; two, they’re obviously encouraged by the announcement of a Windsor Framework and looking carefully at what those potential impacts will be and trying to get a deeper understanding of that process and what a Stormont break will be and how that might be used going forward.   Obviously, as a number of folks said throughout the course of the conference at Queen’s University, having government up and running will – the stability and clarity that it provides will certainly help make that case, although I will say the importance of that will depend, I think, and does depend a bit sector to sector and perhaps even company to company.  I was at, as I think you’re aware, (inaudible) there was a major UK cybersecurity conference in Belfast last week as well, somewhat overlapping with the Good Friday – Belfast Good Friday celebrations.  And I had the opportunity to speak at the conference and then go around the conference floor there for a while and meet dozens of companies and individuals.   And I did ask that question a bit as to whether the lack of political – the lack of an executive was having an impact on that industry in particular, and the response I got from a number of those companies was no, that what Northern Ireland had been able to incubate already in the region that has attracted top-tier talent, that has essentially 0 percent unemployment rate for folks that have those qualifications, that has other cyber firms either looking to invest in Northern Ireland or looking to expand their operations in Northern Ireland, that they have created a cluster that is not necessarily immune but resilient to some of these other factors, right?  And intuitively, one can imagine that that makes some sense if you already have three, four, five hundred employees on the ground in a space, the question of are you going to hire five, 10, 15, 20, 50, 100 more is going to be largely driven by conditions on the ground rather than perhaps larger geopolitical factors.  Whereas if you’re asking somebody to build a billion-dollar plant someplace, they might want to see some additional aspects of stability.  So my – what I have expressed to leaders, business leaders in the UK, in Northern Ireland, and in the United States is my job, what the President of the United States asked me to do, was to champion that cause, to try to provide answers to questions, to try to build that case as best as we can, and be responsive to the questions and concerns that might come up.  And so far people are excited, and so am I.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.  We’ll go to a live question now.  James Crisp.  Mr. Crisp, you have the mike.   QUESTION:  Hello, can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes we can, sir.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Hi.  Thank you for this.  I understand all of the arguments about an investment opportunity.  And I’m sorry, it’s James Crisp from The Telegraph of London here.  MR KENNEDY:  Hi.  QUESTION:  But I suppose if the DUP was here on this briefing, they might ask you, Mr. Kennedy, if you could see any amount of money being enough for the U.S. to accept border controls between – I know Colorado and Kansas, even if the circumstances there have been as unique and difficult as Northern Ireland.   MR KENNEDY:  I appreciate the observation there, Mr. Crisp, and I think my response to that would be the Windsor Framework provides a unique opportunity for the people of Northern Ireland to be able to pursue, I think, a profound and robust economic future.  Issues with regards to identity and with regards to economic opportunity don’t need to be in conflict.  And so I think what – how I view this in my capacity in this role is to very much not say it’s one or the other, but it’s ways that – to express ways and understand that there’s ways for individuals that are proud of and continue to prioritize their – that identity as a citizen of the United Kingdom and as British while also recognizing that there’s economic opportunities that don’t have to dilute that or impact that.   And it’s working diligently through and enabling a political process to take place so that they can work through those details.  And by the way, those details are being worked through at the moment, which we support.  This is not – these are not easy questions, and as you point out, there’s challenges around those very same topics in my own country here in the United States.  So I don’t minimize that and I don’t dismiss that at all.  What I think we need to have is a good-faith effort and a recommitment to working through that process.   And by the way, in all of my conversations with members of and leaders of the DUP, that’s what I’ve received and that’s the impression I have.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.  We’ll go to another pre-submitted question now from Jude Webber from the Financial Times in Ireland.  Sorry, I just lost the question.  He asks, “How is the investment conference to be held this autumn in Northern Ireland shaping up?  When can we expect a U.S. trade delegation to visit?”   MR KENNEDY:  That’s a great question.  So very excited about it, excited for a great response and interest from individuals that I’ve spoken with, again, on both sides of the Atlantic about this.  Details are to come, and I appreciate the fact that there’s – folks are eager to get some answers there.  What I will say is the President announced this obviously publicly recently; I then had a whirlwind 10 days or so in Northern Ireland and the opportunity now to – which was critically important for me to be able to get some feedback from business leaders and civil society leaders in Northern Ireland about how they would want to – what they would like to see in that trade delegation, industries that they would like to see represented, target companies.  Getting a feel for – a larger feel for and current feel for the region gives me the ability to kind of now go back and have conversations with a number of, again, businesses, trade associations, et cetera, here in the United States and start to engage in that topic and conversation to see how we can build that up to be something meaningful. So I expect that’s going to be an iterative process.  We’re going to want to get the timing right in the fall and a number of other factors that we’re kind of considering in it.  But I think the President of the United States made it very clear that that was what he was asking me to do, and I look forward to doing it.   MODERATOR:  Thank you for that.  We’ll go to another pre-submitted question from Shawn Pogatchnik from Politico in Ireland.  He asks, “Some exporters in Northern Ireland who are pro-protocol for rather obvious market access reasons have told Politico there is a chill factor in being able to say this openly for fear of political blowback, particularly if they’re based in predominantly Unionist communities.  Did this issue feature in your discussions with firms, and if so, what support can you provide in helping Northern Irish firms talk more openly about the benefits they’re already experiencing or hoping to develop as Northern Ireland maintains EU single market access?”   MR KENNEDY:  Yeah, it’s a great question.  I would say, look, I spent nearly a decade as a member of the House of Representatives and I understand the complexities of the political process.  And for those of you that are astute observers of the U.S. political process, you would note that they’re working through some sensitivities on some major challenges here this week as well.  And so again, none of this is easy and none of this is – there are certain aspects of this that are unique to Northern Ireland, but there is a lot of it that is shared across many democracies at the moment.  So what I would say is, look, part of this is – respectfully, part of this is very new.  Right, the Windsor Framework and that agreement was just rolled out a few weeks ago.  That’s a huge step forward, and yes, a lot of negotiation, a lot of effort that went into it, which has a – which, again, I applaud and a lot of credit that is deserved across the board from the EU and the UK from sitting down and doing that, putting in the required work and diligence to do it.   After that is announced and then some questions about how some of those details will work, with some clarify and some certainty, the confidence will come from that.  And I think expecting smaller firms that are in politically sensitive environments to be able to have the confidence to turn around and lead out in front of that is probably putting an onus on them that is not – that isn’t wholly fair.   What I think we – what I hope to do a bit over the course of, again, my engagement in this role is to be able to show those opportunities for U.S. investment, make the case for broader economic opportunity, but then critically here, and for those of you that happened to listen to my remarks or see the remarks that I gave at Queen’s, our job is to really push those opportunities out into communities that haven’t experienced the – as broad a benefit of a peace dividend as others have.  Right?   And look, again, this is a challenge that the United States is confronting in our own economies here locally as well.  My hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, perhaps as much as anywhere, where for folks that have a college degree or graduate degree, they have very high median household incomes, they have – my old constituency, my old district that I represented, wealthier suburbs of Boston in the north – doctors and lawyers and bankers and old post-industrial manufacturing communities in the south with a median household income of a quarter of what they were in the north and education attainment a third of what it was in the north.   And so I am very sensitive to those realities, but part of what we can do in this is – and this will take some time; this isn’t going to be immediate – but is really dedicate effort and intent and a deliberateness to actually put together a plan and work with local leaders, civil society, business leaders and political leaders to make sure that communities that didn’t necessarily benefit as greatly as they might have hoped from that peace dividend or from Brexit or might be experiencing some of the – might see some value in a Windsor Framework that they’re not wholly able to get behind yet – to give them the ability to make the case to other parts of their community that there is some benefit here, to given them the confidence to step out and to point to those opportunities and examples.  But you can’t just leave that on a business owner to be able to say or a business to be able to lead through that when, again, as was referred to earlier, there’s some much larger questions of political sensitivities that are lurking through all this.   And so I understand that.  I don’t minimize the challenge there.  But it just means we all have some work to do, but it’s good work to do and there’s good things to point to.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.  We will go to another pre-submitted question from Niamh Campbell from the Belfast Telegraph in Northern Ireland.  “Exactly what kind of investors do you, Special Envoy Kennedy, plan on bringing or introducing to Northern Ireland?  Do you have a specific timeline in mind of when investment will take place?  And what are the main economic opportunities that you foresee in Northern Ireland?” MR KENNEDY:  That’s a great question and I appreciate it.  What I have told business leaders in Northern Ireland and what I have told leaders of the executive, chief executive in Northern Ireland, civil service executives in Northern Ireland, what I’ve told businesses here in the United States – the message remains the same.  It’s I am not going to design a grand plan for development and investment in Northern Ireland.  Norther Ireland already has a plan of prosperity.  They’ve got a 10X plan that is detailed, is deliberate, is intentional, has stakeholder buy-in, that articulates a vision for key sectors and key communities for that vision for Northern Ireland going forward.   My job, and what I’ve told Jayne Brady and her team and a number of businesses, again, American and from Northern Ireland, is my goal is to support them, that vision, and to try to be that champion, to be able to further and advance those prospects.  So when we talk about what companies, what sectors, what areas, it’s taking direction from some of those leaders that have already – that have the credibility and have done the work already.  So there’s a number of industries write large.  I mean, cyber obviously is an obvious one given the strength of the sector already in Northern Ireland.  But there’s a number of other opportunities as well from manufacturing, life sciences, obviously film and creative arts, which is – has been getting an awful lot of attention of late as well, tourism sector writ large, sustainability where Northern Ireland already is leading but has an enormous chance to lead.   And so working in tandem with those individuals and taking my lead from them, direction from them about who they think would be the right fit and right target, how can I leverage the opportunities from this position and my own personal contacts and others to be bale to enable the right individuals from Northern Ireland to be able to make that pitch; who are the validators of that pitch that we can get to wrap around and say, hey, you don’t need a former member of Congress’s articulation as to why this is a great place to invest.  Go talk to the CEO of Rapid7, who’s based here in Boston, as to why they put 500 employees there.  Go talk to the folks at Citigroup as to why they have nearly 4,000 employees in Belfast, and enable them to help make that case as well.  And I should say working in tandem with our ambassador in London, Jane Hartley, who has been focused on these opportunities and issues as well, I’m looking forward to being able to really dive in here. The last piece on this is I understand the focus in the questions and much of the attention on the kind of business side of it and the business engagement.  One of the critical issues that continues to come up repeatedly is skills, and that’s going to be something that I am spending a lot of time with as well because Northern Ireland has this interesting challenge – again, not unlike other parts of the world, and even my hometown here in Boston – where for folks that have that college degree or that credential, third-level credential or the credentials that are necessary, unemployment rate is essentially zero or close to it.  It becomes a – the question becomes:  How can you put more people into a skilled work environment?  How do you make sure that those skills are being acquired and they’re the right ones for that moment?   And that’s a hard question and that will take a little bit more time to build up.  It’s not just a question of, hey, recruiting a company to come to Belfast because Belfast is great.  Belfast is great.  We want that company to come, we want those companies to expand.  Part of that is talent, by the way.  And so trying to really dive down, unpack these layers, move back up that system and to try to say, okay, well, where is it that we can be effective?  How is it good?  We can really try to take advantage of or really dive into some of the structural obstacles that are in place that are preventing Northern Ireland from being able to achieve that full potential.  That is a kind of more nuanced interpretation from my perspective of this role, but I think that’s also what the role calls for at this moment.  Belfast is able to, Northern Ireland is able to make that case already to a number of firms about what they should invest.  They don’t need me to do it.  They’re already lining up.  What we need is yes, some particular perhaps strategic assistance in some of those spaces, but then trying to address some of the larger structural barriers as well.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.  Unfortunately, that is all the time we have for today.  Thank you all for your questions and thank you, Special Envoy Kennedy, for joining us.  Before we close the call, I’d turn it back over to you to see if you have any final thoughts for the group.  MR KENNEDY:  Thanks very much, everybody.  Grateful for your interest, your participation on the call.  I hope that we can continue this conversation going forward.  I, as you can probably tell, am a big believer in Northern Ireland.  I’m a big believer in the people, the place.  I’m even a big believer in the weather.  So I look forward to engaging with you all further as the opportunities arise and hope that some of you might be able to attend either one of my upcoming visits or perhaps that trade delegation once we get those dates set, and we’ll certainly be in communication with all of you as that comes together. But thanks very much.  Have a great week and a good weekend, and stay well and stay safe.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, sir.   MR KENNEDY:  Thank you.  MODERATOR:  Shortly we will send the audio recording of the briefing to all the participating journalists and provide a transcript as soon as it is available.  We’d also love to hear your feedback, and you can contact us at any time at TheBrusselsHub – one word – @state.gov.  Thanks again for your participation and we hope you can join us again in the future for another press briefing.  This ends today’s briefing. # # # 
- Dublin, Ireland: St. Andrew’s College: 2024 Special Needs Profile Office of Overseas SchoolsDownload the Special Needs Profile (Dublin 2024 Special Needs Profile Ireland) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.&nbsp;St. Andrew&#8217;s College is an independent, interdenominational, coeducational, junior and secondary school, founded in 1894, which offers an educational program from kindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. Situated on a 12.72-acre (15.15 hectares) site in Booterstown, County Dublin, the school year comprises three terms, extending approximately from late August to early June.This is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of December 2023 and provided by the school.NOTE: School situations can change quickly, particularly as schools face cutbacks to learning support programs due to the pandemic, unrest, and economic uncertainty. For the most current information, work with the REO and school. Information in this document was collected by the Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools directly from the school in December 2023 and shows the availability of services rather than an assessment of the quality of the services. The profile is intended as a jumping off point for a conversation with the REO and school to understand the best fit for your child. Definitions may vary school to school.