18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last
held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
head of government:
Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime
minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Senate (Seanad Eireann):
elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February
1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49
elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats
2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann):
elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June
1995); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party
19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein
1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total)
Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats
10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS;
Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party
of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive
Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY
note:
Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna
Fail and the Labor Party
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO,
MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER
chancery:
2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 462-3939
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
embassy:
42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address:
use embassy street address