Ireland Country Report
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a developed country in Western Europe that occupies most of the island of Ireland and is surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean, the Celtic Sea, and the Irish Sea. The country shares a land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom but has had difficult relations with its northern neighbor in the past. Ireland has experienced rapid economic growth since the 1990s, developing as Europe’s technology and financial services hub and becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world. The country was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis, but the economy has since recovered and returned to strong growth.
Almost a third of Ireland’s population lives in and around the capital, Dublin. Dublin is a highly developed European capital with excellent transport connections and modern services. However, much of the rest of the country, particularly in the west, is largely rural. Although the country has a temperate climate, seasonal weather conditions and storms can affect rail and air travel services and cause local disruptions, especially in coastal areas.
Although Ireland is generally a low-risk environment, it can present some safety challenges for international travelers. The most serious threat travelers face is criminal activity, but it is low compared to other European and North American countries and relatively rare in rural areas. Most criminal activity takes the form of petty theft, such as pickpocketing and pickpocketing, and the most violent crimes occur outside bars and nightclubs, between rival gangs or drunken attackers. Although some Republican extremist groups remain active in the country and continue to pose a minor threat, many have now shifted their focus to organized crime and rarely pose a threat to ordinary people. There are occasional scares involving small explosive devices left in public places, but they have become rarer in recent years, with most incidents occurring during visits by British government officials.
Last updated: April 11, 2022
Security
Criminal activity, particularly petty theft, has increased in Ireland in recent years, albeit at relatively low levels, and is now the main threat to domestic travelers. In Dublin and other major cities, most crime incidents involve pickpocketing and other petty theft, and crime rates in rural areas remain low.
Mass demonstrations are regularly held in the capital and other major cities over various social, economic, and political issues. Several such large-scale protests have been held in recent years over government austerity policies and controversial religious issues, disrupting the area, but the protests are generally tightly controlled.
Although some extremist republican groups are still active and still pose a mild threat in some areas of Ireland, the number of incidents linked to these groups is low. Since the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland, many Republican groups have been involved in organized crime and shootings, and there are occasionally targeted killings linked to gang wars in Dublin and other urban centers, but tourists are hardly affected.
Last updated: April 26, 2022
Infrastructure
Air travel is safe and compliant with international safety standards.
Road conditions are good, especially in the east and in urban areas, but some roads in the countryside are narrow and winding and can become more difficult for travelers.
Irish ports are efficient according to international standards.
Ireland’s public infrastructure is modern and highly developed. Wet (water) central heating systems are used in Ireland.
There is growing concern about the threat of cyber attacks, especially from Russia. Cybercrime remains the most common type of fraud in Ireland and is three times more destructive than the global standard.
Last updated: March 10, 2023
Environment
Ireland has a temperate maritime climate, with mild summers and cool winters, but with limited temperatures. Rainfall is generally high and the country, especially in the west, is often affected by North Atlantic storms, which often bring strong winds and the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. The risk of flooding is particularly high during the winter months from December to February, and there may be occasional disruptions to land and air travel during this period.
Last updated: March 15, 2022
Health and Medical
Healthcare standards in Ireland are high and excellent medical care is widely available. Pharmacies are located in most large towns and villages and generally have prescription and non-prescription drugs. Tap water is safe, secure, and suitable for drinking.
Last updated: September 14, 2022
Political
Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. Ireland has a three-party coalition government and is politically stable. Mr Leo Varadkar (Fin Gael) will become Taoiseach (First Minister) in December 2022 and, as part of the coalition agreement, he will be appointed as Taoiseach (Deputy Minister of State) and Michael Martin (Fianna) who currently holds the post . Tánaiste of the Republican Party. Mr. Feil) and changed roles.
Last updated: March 10, 2023
