rom the US:

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

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;
similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the
colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of
green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy
Ireland

Economy - overview:

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth
averaging 6% in 1995-2007. Agriculture, once the most important
sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although the
exports sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a key
component of Ireland's economy, construction has most recently
fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and
business investment. Property prices have risen more rapidly in
Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in any other developed world
economy. Per capita GDP is 40% above that of the four big European
economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg, and in
2007 surpassed that of the United States. The Irish Government has
implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb
price and wage inflation, invest in infrastructure, increase labor
force skills, and promote foreign investment. A slowdown in the
property market, more intense global competition, and increased
costs, however, have compelled government economists to lower
Ireland's growth forecast slightly for 2008. Ireland joined in
circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU
nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$191.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$258.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$46,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

2.217 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: