Government (Ireland)
====================


     Long-form name:
         none
     Type:
         republic
     Capital:
         Dublin
     Administrative divisions:
         26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry,
         Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath,
         Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath,
         Wexford, Wicklow
     Independence:
         6 December 1921 (from UK)
     Constitution:
         29 December 1937; adopted 1937
     Legal system:
         based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts;
         judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted
         compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
     Executive branch:
         president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate
         (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail
         Eireann)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John
         BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Workers' Party
         (vacant); Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY;
         note - Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna
         Fail and the Progressive Democrats
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       President:
         last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
         Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
       Senate:
         last held on 17 February 1987 (next to be held February 1992); results -
         percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 30,
         Fine Gael 16, Labor 3, independents 11
       House of Representatives:
         last held on 12 July 1989 (next to be held June 1994); results - Fianna Fail
         44.0%, Fine Gael 29.4%, Labor Party 9.3%, Progressive Democrats 5.4%,
         Workers' Party 4.9%, Sinn Fein 1.1%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total)
         Fianna Fail 77, Fine Gael 55, Labor Party 15, Workers' Party 7, Progressive
         Democrats 6, independents 6
     Communists:
         under 500