GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 70,280 sq. km; land: 68,890 sq. km; water: 1,390 sq. km
Land boundaries: total: 360 km; border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winter s, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

PEOPLE

Population: 3,619,480 (July 1998 est.)
Population density: 53 people per sq. km (1998)
Population growth rate: 0.36% (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)
Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard, English is the language generally used.

ECONOMY

Economy—overview: The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 27% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Since the 1980s, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$59.9 billion (1997 est.)
Exports:
total value: $54.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals, animal products
Imports:
total value: $44.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing
Currency: 1 Euro (€) = 100 cents

In the last few years Ireland has become a very popular destination for corporate functions from all over the world. This is due mainly to the increase in standards of hotels and venues throughout the country, and the unrivalled leisure activities situated throughout the country.
A choice of over 300 hundred golf courses, vibrant friendly cities and the peace of the countryside await the discerning corporate visitor.