| Ireland | |
| Official name | Republic of Ireland |
| Capital city | Dublin |
| Official language |
English Irish Gaelic |
| Currency | euro |
| National Day | 17 March |
| Population | 4,203,200 |
| Size | 70,273 km² |
| National anthem | Amhrán na bhFiann |
National |
|
| Political system | Parliamentary republic |
| Head of state | President Mary McAleese |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Brian Cowen |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Micheál Martin |
| Most recent elections |
Presidential elections: 1997 Parliamentary elections: 2007 |
| Length of mandate |
President: 7 years Parliament: 5 years |
European Union |
|
| Date of accession | 1 January 1973 |
| European Commissioner |
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Research, Innovation and Science |
| European Parliament | 12 members |