Ireland Country Analysis Report analyzes the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) structure of Ireland. The report provides a holistic view of the country from historical, current and future perspectives. Insightful analysis on critical current and future issues is presented through detailed SCPT (strengths, challenges, prospects and threats/risks) analysis for each of the PESTLE segments. In addition, the PESTLE segments are supplemented with relevant quantitative data to support trend analysis.

Uses of Country Analysis Reports:

Understanding gained from country profiles can be used to plan business investment or market entry in a particular country. The insights provide ideas about key business opportunities. The profiles also provide an overview of the legal and regulatory framework to start or operate a business in the country. Typical uses of each PESTLE segment are:
• Political section provides understanding about the political system and key figures relevant to business in the country and governance indicators.
• Economic section deals with the economic story of a country that provides a balanced assessment of significant macro-economic issues.
• Social section enables understanding of customer demographics through income distribution, rural-urban segmentation and centres of affluence, healthcare and educational scenario.
• Technological section provides strategic information on technology and telecom, technological laws and policies, technological gaps, patents and opportunity sectors in the country.
• Legal section provides information about the legal structure, corporate laws, laws to start a new business and the tax regime.
• Environmental section provides information on the country’s performance on environmental indicators and policies.

Overview 1
Catalyst 1
Summary 1
Key facts and geographic location 9
Key facts 9
Geographical location 10
PESTLE analysis 11
Summary 11
Political analysis 12
Economic analysis 15
Social analysis 18
Technological analysis 21
Legal analysis 24
Environmental analysis 26
Political landscape 29
Summary 29
Evolution 29
Structure and policies 32
Performance 35
Outlook 36
Economic landscape 37
Summary 37
Evolution 37
Structure and policies 39
Performance 41
Outlook 54
Social landscape 55
Summary 55
Evolution 55
Structure and policies 55
Performance 59
Outlook 62
Technological landscape 63
Summary 63
Evolution 63
Structure and policies 63
Performance 64
Outlook 67
Legal landscape 68
Summary 68
Evolution 68
Structure and policies 68
Performance 71
Outlook 71
Environmental landscape 72
Summary 72
Evolution 72
Structure and policies 72
Performance 75
Outlook 77
APPENDIX 79
Ask the analyst 79
Datamonitor consulting 79
Disclaimer 79

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Map of Ireland 10
Figure 2: Ireland – political events timeline 30
Figure 3: Ireland – key political figures 32
Figure 4: Evolution of GDP growth in Ireland, 1971–2008 39
Figure 5: Market capitalization of the Irish Stock Exchange, 2001–08 41
Figure 6: Real GDP and GDP growth rate in Ireland, 2002–12 42
Figure 7: Sector composition of GDP in Ireland, 2008 43
Figure 8: Ireland’s agricultural output, 2001–08 44
Figure 9: Ireland’s industrial output, 2001–08 45
Figure 10: Ireland’s service output, 2001–08 46
Figure 11: Current account balance in Ireland, 2001–08 48
Figure 12: Ireland’s external trade (merchandise), 2004–08 49
Figure 13: Ireland’s total foreign investment inflows, 2001–08 51
Figure 14: CPI-based inflation in Ireland, 2002–08 52
Figure 15: Major religions of Ireland, 2007 57
Figure 16: Expenditure on healthcare in Ireland, 2002–08 60
Figure 17: Government’s expenditure on education in Ireland, 2002–08 61
Figure 18: Growth rate of mobile and fixed-line subscribers in Ireland, 2002–12 65
Figure 19: Internet users and growth rate in Ireland, 2002–12 66
Figure 20: R&D expenditure in Ireland, 2000–07 67
Figure 21: Carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland, 2000–07 76
Figure 22: Carbon fuel usage in Ireland, 2002–12 77

TABLE OF TABLES
Table 1: Ireland–Key indicators 4
Table 2: Ireland – key facts 9
Table 3: Analysis of Ireland’s political landscape 12
Table 4: Analysis of the Irish economy 15
Table 5: Analysis of Ireland’s social system 18
Table 6: Analysis of Ireland’s technology landscape 21
Table 7: Analysis of Ireland’s legal landscape 24
Table 8: Analysis of Ireland’s environmental landscape 26
Table 9: Ireland’s mid-year population by age (million), 2008 56