Government and Politics of Ireland

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

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

Legal System

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 of the previous 8 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011; reelected for a second term on 26 October 2018) head of government: Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál MARTIN (since 9 April 2025); note - Simon HARRIS served as Taoiseach from April 2024 until April 2025 following the formation of a new coalition government after the November 2024 general election cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on 26 October 2018 (next scheduled for October 2025); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president in 2018; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS 55.8%, Peter CASEY 23.3%, Seán GALLAGHER 6.4%, Liadh NÍ RIADA 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN 6.0%, Gavin DUFFY 2.2% note: current government coalition consists of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, formed following the 2020 general election; a new coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and independent members was formed in 2025 following the November 2024 general election

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Éireann (60 seats — 43 elected by vocational panels, 6 elected by university graduates, and 11 nominated by the Taoiseach; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dáil Éireann (160 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation using the single transferable vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Senate — last held in April 2020 (next to be held by 2025); House of Representatives — last held on 29 November 2024 (next to be held by 2029). Election results: Senate — percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — Fianna Fáil 16, Fine Gael 12, Sinn Féin 7, Green Party 4, Labour Party 4, independents and others 17; House of Representatives — percent of vote by party — Fianna Fáil 21.9%, Fine Gael 20.9%, Sinn Féin 24.1%, Labour Party 4.3%, Social Democrats 4.8%, Green Party 1.9%, others and independents 22.1%; seats by party — Fianna Fáil 48, Fine Gael 38, Sinn Féin 39, Labour Party 9, Social Democrats 11, Green Party 1, Independents and others 14.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Political Parties

Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Head of State

President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011

Head of Government

Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál MARTIN

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Elections

Senate — last held in April 2020 (next to be held by 2025); House of Representatives — last held on 29 November 2024 (next to be held by 2029).

Election Results

Senate — percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — Fianna Fáil 16, Fine Gael 12, Sinn Féin 7, Green Party 4, Labour Party 4, independents and others 17; House of Representatives — percent of vote by party — Fianna Fáil 21.9%, Fine Gael 20.9%, Sinn Féin 24.1%, Labour Party 4.3%, Social Democrats 4.8%, Green Party 1.9%, others and independents 22.1%; seats by party — Fianna Fáil 48, Fine Gael 38, Sinn Féin 39, Labour Party 9, Social Democrats 11, Green Party 1, Independents and others 14.

Constitution

29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Independence

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

National Holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

International Organization Participation

Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. KENNY embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777 FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Capital City

Dublin

Location

53 19 N, 6 14 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derived from Irish dubh and lind meaning respectively "black, dark" and "pool" and which referred to the dark tidal pool where the River Poddle entered the River Liffey; today the area is the site of the castle gardens behind Dublin Castle

U.S. Embassy Dublin 42 Elgin Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Telephone: 353-1-668-8777 Emergency after-hours telephone: 353-1-630-6200 Facsimile: 353-1-668-8056

Military Branches

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Force: Army, Naval Service, Air Corps

Service Age and Obligation

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF; 18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-28 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 18-35 years of age for the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (PDF officers), 5 years (PDF enlisted), 3 years RDF (4 years for Naval Service Reserves); EU citizenship, refugee status, or 5-year residence in Ireland required