
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>English</title>
		<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75479</link>
		<description></description>
		<language>en</language>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 09:57:36 UTC</pubDate>
		
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Application Form]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75510</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION FORM ON-LINE


A new visa system is now operating at this Mission. The new system
includes the facility for applicants to complete their application
form on-line.


To launch an on-line application please click here.


Applicants are reminded that completing the on-line application
form is only the first step in the visa application process. An
application can only be processed when the on-line form is
completed AND the required backing documentation, passport
photograph and appropriate fee are received by the relevant
office as indicated by the on-line system.


It is no longer possible to apply using a downloaded/paper
application form.


INFORMATION NOTE TO ASSIST APPLICANTS


An information note has been prepared to assist applicants. This is
available in English, and also in Arabic,Chinese, French, Russian,Turkishand Urdu.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:04:16 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Travel Advice]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75557</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
Cypriot banks have now re-opened. While ATMs, debit and
credit cards can be used as normal, temporary controls are in place
and withdrawals are limited to €300 per natural person per day and
tourists can only take euro or foreign currency notes to the value
of €3,000 per natural person per journey out of Cyprus.


Summary



There is a low threat from terrorism in Cyprus.


Cyprus has a strict policy of zero tolerance towards
drugs.See “Local Laws and Customs”.


Cypriot driving regulations are similar to those of Ireland
and driving is on the left hand side of the road. See “Road
Safety”.


Before purchasing property anywhere on the island, you are
advised to seek independent qualified legal advice. See
“Buying property in Cyprus”.


You should take out comprehensive travel and medical
insurance before travelling. See “Travel Insurance”.



Safety and Security


Cyprus is generally a safe country with a low crime rate.
However you should take normal precautions to ensure that your
possessions, especially money, credit cards and documents, are
secure.


There is a low threat from terrorism in Cyprus.


&#183; Road Safety



Short-term visitors and tourists are permitted to drive on an Irish
driving licence. Cypriot driving regulations are similar to those
of Ireland and driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
Rental cars and scooters are widely available and such vehicles
carry distinguishable red number plates.Caution should be
exercised on the road network as lane discipline is not always a
strong point with Cypriot drivers. You will therefore need to
remain alert to cars changing lanes without using their indicators.
You should also be vigilant at traffic-light junctions as there is
a tendency to jump red lights; a good rule is to wait for about
five seconds before moving on a green light.
You may be heavily fined if you drive without wearing a seat belt
or ride a motorbike without wearing a crash helmet. Heavy fines
also apply if you use a mobile telephone or are under the influence
of alcohol while driving.When hiring a car, moped, boat, Jet
Ski or other vehicle, check that it is road or sea worthy and that
you have appropriate insurance cover and safety equipment.


&#183; HealthIf
you need emergency medical assistance during your stay in Cyprus,
dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical
facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical
assistance company immediately.
There are several private hospitals and clinics in Cyprus that
operate private ambulances. We recommend that you always check with
the ambulance drivers if they are taking you to a private or state
hospital to prevent any potential queries over hospital charges.
Your EHIC card will not cover you for private hospitals or clinics.


&#183; Swimming
Bathing is generally safe, but you should be aware of strong seas
and undertows. Always comply with warning signs and swim only from
approved beaches.


&#183; Travel
InsuranceThe Department of Foreign Affairs strongly
recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which
will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical
evacuation, before travelling to Cyprus. You should check any
exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you
want to undertake.
Irish Citizensshould note that the Irish Government does
not provide funds for emergency medical repatriation or for
repatriation of remains.Travellers should also obtain a
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to
emergency medical treatment in Cyprus. This card is NOT a
substitute for travel insurance. Cards are available free of charge
from the HSE in Ireland. See www.ehic.iefor further details. The
EHIC replaces the Form E111, which is no longer valid.
Please note that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not
valid in the occupied northern part of the island.


&#183; HealthIf
you need emergency medical assistance during your stay in Cyprus,
dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical
facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical
assistance company immediately.
There are several private hospitals and clinics in Cyprus that
operate private ambulances. We recommend that you always check with
the ambulance drivers if they are taking you to a private or state
hospital to prevent any potential queries over hospital charges.
Your EHIC card will not cover you for private hospitals or clinics.


&#183;
Cash/Banking
The currency of Cyprus is the Euro. Cyprus takes seriously the
possession of fake euro banknotes and checks are made at the
majority of retail outlets. If you are found to be in
possession of fake Euro banknotes the Police will be called and you
may be prosecuted.
All major credit cards are accepted in Cyprus. Those in
possession of a Maestro or Cirrus symbol on their debit cards will
be in a position to draw funds from their Irish Bank Account.


Local Laws and Customs


&#183; Cyprus operates a zero
policy on the possession of illegal drugs. Sentencing for
possession of even a small quantity of illegal narcotics can result
in substantial prison sentences. Irish tourists are strongly
advised to avoid the possession, purchase or importation of illegal
narcotics during their stay in Cyprus.


&#183; Homosexuality is legal
in the Republic of Cyprus, although it is not generally as openly
accepted as it is in other parts of Europe. In the occupied north
of Cyprus, homosexuality is illegal.


&#183; Entry
RequirementsYou must hold a valid passport. However,
Irish passport holders do not require an entry visa into the
Republic of Cyprus.
You should ensure that your passport is valid for the full duration
of your stay.It is advisable to take a number of photocopies
of your passport with you.During your stay you should carry a
photocopy of your passport at all times and should never give your
passport as security for car, motorbike or quod bike rentals; your
passport is essentially a travel document.


&#183; Local
Travel
It is possible to travel to the occupied north of Cyprus from the
Republic of Cyprus by crossing at several checkpoints,
including the Ledra Palace and Ledra Street checkpoints in central
Nicosia where you can cross by foot.If you intend to take a
hire car to the north, the main crossing in Nicosia is Agios
Dometios. Many cars hired in the Republic of Cyprus are not insured
for use in the occupied north. Check this with the insurance
company - you will not be allowed through a crossing without the
correct insurance documents.
You can avoid having your passport stamped by the authorities in
the occupied north by completing the separate white slip provided
at the point of entry which will permit you to enter and stay for
up to 30 days.
Foreign nationals who have entered Cyprus through the occupied
north are considered by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to
have entered Cyprus through an illegal port of entry. The
Government of the Republic of Cyprus reserves the right to fine EU
(including Irish) citizens for illegal entry if they cross into the
south. In practice, their current policy is not to do so.


&#183; Buying property in
CyprusMany Irish citizens have purchased properties in
the Government controlled area of the Republic of
Cyprus.As with property transactions in general,
potential purchasers should seek local independent legal advice to
ensure that the title deeds are clean and that there are no
outstanding mortgages on both the property in question and on the
land on which it is built; there have been reported cases where,
unbeknown to the purchaser, the land on which the purchased house
was built was mortgaged to a bank and when the landowner defaulted
on the loan the bank sought possession of the land.


Irish citizens considering the purchase of property in the
occupied northern part of Cyprus, which is not under the
effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, are
strongly advised to seek qualified independent legal advice. This
is due to potential claims related to title and ownership from
Greek Cypriots displaced from that area in 1974 following the
Turkish army invasion, which may lead to serious financial and
legal repercussions.Potential buyers may face legal
proceedings in the courts of the Republic of Cyprus, decisions of
which can be executed elsewhere in the EU, including
Ireland.In this respect, the European Court of Justice has
recently issued a judgement whereby a Greek Cypriot land owner of
property in the occupied north, which was bought byan EU
citizen from a third party without his consent, can have judgements
by a Cypriot court against those who purchased his property
enforced in another EU Member State. In January 2010, the Court of
Appeal of England and Wales upheld this judgment against a British
couple who purchased a property in the occupied north and now must
demolish their home and return the site to the original owner.


Furthermore, there is a Cypriot law making it a criminal offence,
with penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment, to purchase, sell,
rent, promote or advertise the sale of property in the occupied
northern part of Cyprus owned by Greek Cypriots. Any attempt to
undertake such a transaction is also a criminal offence under
Cypriot law.


Natural Disasters and Climate


&#183; Cyprus occasionally
experiences earth tremors, but these are almost invariably very
mild.


&#183; Cyprus has a
subtropical climate with very mild winters and very hot summers.


Additional Country Info


&#183; Time Zone Cyprus
is 2 hours ahead of Ireland; i.e. when it is 9.00am in Ireland it
is 11.00am in Cyprus.


&#183; Emergency Contact
Numbers The Emergency number in Cyprus is 112 or 199.
Directory enquires is 11892


&#183; Electrical
Equipment Cyprus uses the same electrical infrastructure as
Ireland, so adaptors are not required.


&#183; Language English
is widely spoken throughout the island. Road signs in the
Republic of Cyprus are normally written in both Greek and English.


&#183; Telephones Irish
mobile phones with a roaming facility will operate on the Cypriot
network. The international code for Cyprus is +357.


ASSISTANCE FOR IRISH CITIZENS IN CYPRUS The Embassy
of Ireland to Cyprus is located in Nicosia. The Embassy's
contact details are:

Address:
Embassy of Ireland
7, Aiantos Street,
St. Omoloyites,
1082 Nicosia (off Demosthenis Severis Ave.)
Main Tel: + 357-22-818183
Fax: 
+357-22-660050




]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:53:01 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Cyprus]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75480</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
WELCOME!


Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Ireland in Cyprus. We very
much hope that you find this website to be useful and informative.
If you have comments about our website or require further
information on Ireland, please contact the Embassy.





_____________________________________


Customer Service


The Embassy of Ireland in Cyprus is committed to providing all our
customers with a high standard of service. You can use the
   “Contact
   Us” form to submit any feedback you may have.





Link to the official
website of theIrish Presidency of the Council of the EU






________________________________________


St Patricks
Day greetings from the President Michael D. Higgins


________________________________________






Opportunity to make submissions on changes to the Irish
Constitution (PDF 60kb)


________________________________________


EU Presidency approaches its half-way point - How has Ireland made
a difference so far? (PDF 221kb)


________________________________________

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:24:55 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[The Economy]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75576</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The Economy


Ireland is currently facing severe economic challenges and is
addressing these in cooperation with our EU partners and the
International Monetary Fund. Ireland had a period of extraordinary
growth from 1993 to 2007 and had become one of the world’s most
dynamic, innovative and globalised economies, with extensive
external trade and investment links.


In 2008, partly due to the open nature of its economy Ireland began
to feel the effects of the global economic downturn. Pressure on
the economy was significantly accentuated by the end of a prolonged
Irish property market boom and problems within the domestic banking
system. This led to a period of recession in Ireland and a sharp
contraction in economic output.


But Ireland is facing the serious economic downturn from a strong
starting position. Many of the strengths that drove our recent
economic boom and brought unprecedented levels of prosperity, with
growth and GDP per capita among the highest in the European Union,
remain in place. these strengths will position Ireland to take
advantage of the global economic recovery as it emerges.


Ireland’s economic success is generally attributed to its educated
and flexible workforce; its social partnership model, which
involves close cooperation between government, trade unions and
employers; government measures to ensure macroeconomic stability
and to attract foreign investment; and membership of the European
Union, which now provides a market of almost 500 million people.
Ireland is a member of the eurozone.


Ireland continues to be one of the most open economies in the OECD,
and exports are now showing strong growth after a slowdown in
recent years. Ireland has developed a strong entrepreneurial
culture in terms of new businesses being established.


Ireland has a strong track record in attracting investment in
Information Communications Technology (ICT), Life Sciences,
Financial Services and Globally Traded Business (GTB) including
Digital Media, Engineering, Consumer Brands and International
Services. Ireland’s positioning as a ‘smart economy’ continues
apace combining our innovative, enterprise economy with an
ever–increasing emphasis on the emerging areas of Clean/Green
Technologies, Services Innovation and Convergence. Ireland is also
a centre for digital media in Europe with major multinational
companies locating their European headquarters and a range of
business support activities here.



Top of Page


Inward and Outward Investment


Inward investment has been critically important to Ireland’s
economic development, providing tens of thousands of jobs,
disseminating technological know-how and expertise within the wider
economy, linking up with indigenous industry, boosting
productivity, and underpinning export growth. Outward investment by
Irish companies has increased noticeably in recent years, albeit
from a very low historic base. This emerging trend is consistent
with the pattern observed in other economies as they move to higher
stages of economic development.



Top of Page


Education and
Training


Education and Training is a vital component of Ireland’s
knowledge-based economy, and is a priority investment under the
National Development Plan. Ireland enjoys one of the best education
systems in the world, with approximately 1 million people in full
time education.


Top of Page


Innovation and R&amp;amp;D


R&amp;amp;D in Ireland has expanded dramatically in recent years
reflecting the Irish government’s massive injection of funding into
the sector. Leading global companies have found Ireland to be an
excellent location for knowledge-based activities. The young Irish
workforce has shown a particular aptitude for the efficient
collection, interpretation and dissemination of research
information.



Top of Page


Corporation Tax


Since 2003 Ireland’s corporate tax regime has been fixed at a rate
of 12.5%. This applies to all Irish corporate trading profits. A
rate of 25% applies to non-trading (passive) income.


Economic and
Social Research Institute
Central Bank of Ireland



Top of Page


Trade


Ireland’s total trade in 2009 was approximately €270bn; with a
merchandise trade surplus of more than €39 billion. This consists
equally of Merchandise Trade and Services Trade each of which stand
at approx. €130bn. The main merchandise goods traded include
Organic chemicals (mainly for the pharmaceutical sector), Medical
&amp;amp; pharmaceutical products and Computers. The main services
areas are Computer Services, Trade Related Business Services,
Insurance and Financial services.


Ireland’s main trade partners are the United states, Great Britain,
Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands.


Top of Page


Industry and Services


The Industrial sector has a highly skilled technological labour
pool. Within this high technology grouping, the most active sectors
currently are life sciences, medical and information technology
sectors. Many of the world’s leading companies have subsidiaries in
Ireland.


The service sector in Ireland accounts for approximately half of
GDP. Just under half of total Irish exports are services, and
Ireland is in the top ten countries worldwide for exports of
commercial services. Throughout the last decade output of services
has grown strongly, largely as a result of growth in financial
services, telecommunications and tourism.


Three agencies deal with industrial development in Ireland.
Forf&#225;s provides overall policy advice and co-ordination for
enterprise development and science, technology and innovation in
Ireland. Enterprise Ireland helps develop Irish-based
enterprise with the potential to trade internationally. IDA
Ireland has responsibility for securing new investment in
manufacturing and internationally traded services. It also has
responsibility to encourage existing Foreign Direct Investors to
expand and develop their businesses in Ireland.


There are also a number of regional development agencies such as
Shannon Development which was set up in 1959 to promote Shannon
International Airport, and &#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta, which is the
regional authority responsible for the economic, social and
cultural development of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking parts of the
country).











Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Innovation




Forf&#225;s




IDA
Ireland




Enterprise Ireland




Shannon
Development




&#218;dar&#225;s na
Gaeltachta




Intertrade Ireland




Science Foundation
Ireland




Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair (National Training Authority)






Top of Page


Financial Services


Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), which was
set up by the Irish Government with EU approval in 1987, is
recognised as a leading location for a range of internationally
traded financial services, including banking, asset financing, fund
management, corporate treasury management, investment management,
custody and administration and specialised insurance operations.
More than430 international operations are approved to trade in the
IFsc, while a further 700 managed entities are approved to carry on
business under the IFSC programme.





Department of
Finance




International
Financial Services Centre




National Treasury
Management Agency






Top of Page


Agriculture


Of the total land area of approximately 7 million hectares (17
million acres), 5 million hectares (12.32 million acres) are
utilised for agricultural purposes (including forestry). Beef and
dairying are by far the most important sectors of the agricultural
industry. The main crops are barley, wheat, potatoes and mushrooms.


The Agri-Food industry makes a significant contribution to the
Irish economy. The combined agri-food and drink sector accounts for
6% of GDP, almost €8bn of exports and accounts for 133,400 jobs. In
particular, the industry plays a major role in the indigenous
sector.











Department
of Agriculture and Food




Bord Bia




Teagasc
(Agriculture &amp;amp; Food Development Authority)




Food Safety Authority
of Ireland






Top of Page


Fishing


The Irish seafood industry provides employment for over 11,000
people. It makes a significant contribution to the economic and
social fabric of the many small communities located in mainly rural
areas or small towns and villages around the 3,172 kilometres of
our coastline.








Department of
Communications, Energy &amp;amp; Natural Resources




Bord Iascaigh
Mhara






Top of Page


Tourism


Approximately 6 million tourists visit Ireland each year, spending
approximately €3.9bn, and sustaining more than 180,000 jobs.
Tourism Ireland was established under the framework of the Good
Friday Agreement 1998 to co-ordinate the work of the two tourist
boards on the island, F&#225;ilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland
Tourist Board.


Ireland’s successful tourism industry is built around the three
themes: Irish people; Irish culture and the physical beauty of the
country.



Top of Page


Radio and Television


The national radio and television service is operated by Radio
Telef&#237;s &#201;ireann (RT&#201;), the public broadcasting company which
transmits on two television and five radio channels. RT&#201; derives
its revenue from licence fees and the sale of advertising time. TV3
is a commercial broadcaster and there are many commercial radio
stations including Today FM and Newstalk. In addition to the wide
availability of British radio and television programming, satellite
broadcasts are achieving an increasing audience.


Irish speakers are served by a dedicated radio channel, Radio na
Gaeltachta (operated by RT&#201;) and by TG4, an independent Irish
language television channel.


The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established in 2009
under the Broadcasting Act 2009, as an independent regulator for
radio and television broadcasters in Ireland. The BAI has a range
of objectives and functions and incorporates the work of the
Broadcasting commission of Ireland. the Authority is funded through
a levy on all broadcasters licensed in the state.








Radio Teilf&#237;s
&#201;ireann




TG4




TV3




Today FM




Newstalk




Broadcasting Authority
of Ireland (BAI)






Top of Page


Newspapers


Newspapers have been published in Ireland for over 300 years. Today
there are a number of daily broadsheet and tabloid papers, two
evening newspapers, and five Sunday newspapers. There are also
about 60 local newspapers usually published weekly and a wide
variety of magazines dealing with current affairs, economic issues
and leisure interests.








The Irish
Times




Irish
Independent




Irish
Examiner




Sunday Business
Post




Sunday
Independent




Evening Echo




Press Council
of Ireland (and Press Ombudsman)






Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:56:14 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75570</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled Ireland in Brief, provides a general
   overview of Ireland's political, economic and cultural
   life. While it is not possible to include every aspect of
   life in Ireland in this short publication, we hope that you will
   discover a little about Ireland and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75591</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled Ireland in Brief, provides a general
   overview of Ireland's political, economic and cultural
   life. While it is not possible to include every aspect of
   life in Ireland in this short publication, we hope that you will
   discover a little about Ireland and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Useful Links Relating to Ireland]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=81008</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I J 
K 
L 
M 
N 
O 
P 
Q 
R 
S 
T 
U 
V 
W 
X 
Y 
Z


A


An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna



Top of Page


B


Bord Bia


Bord Iascaigh
Mhara


Bord Scann&#225;n na
h&#201;ireann


British Irish Council


Broadcasting
Commission of Ireland (BCI)



Top of Page


C


Central Bank
of Ireland


Central Statistics
Office


Chester Beatty
Library


Citizens
Information


Council of
the European Union


Court of
Justice of the European Communities


Crafts Council of
Ireland


Culture
Ireland



Top of Page


D


Government Departments


Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food


Department of
Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht


Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources


Department of
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


Department of
Defence


Department of
Education and Science


Department of
Enterprise Trade and Employment


Department of the
Environment &amp;amp; Local Government


Department of
Finance


Department of Foreign
Affairsand Trade


Department of Health
and Children


Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform


Department of
Social and Family Affairs


Department
of the Taoiseach


Department of
Transport


Director of
Public Prosecutions


Documents in Irish
Foreign Policy


Drug
Treatment Board


Dublin Dental Hospital Board


Dublin Port
Company


Dublin
Docklands Development Authority



Top of Page


E


Economic and Social
Research Institute


Enterprise Ireland


Environmental
Protection Agency


Equality
Commission for Northern Ireland


EUCommon Foreign and Security Policy


EU Gateway


European Central
Bank


European Commission - in Ireland


EU Common Foreign and Security Policy


European
Ombudsman


European Parliament - in Ireland


Evening Echo



Top of Page


F


F&#225;ilte
Ireland


Fianna F&#225;il


Fine Gael


Foinse


Food Safety Authority
of Ireland


Football Association
of Ireland


Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair


Forf&#225;s


Further Education
and Training Awards Council



Top of Page


G


Gaelic Athletic
Association


Garda
Ombudsman


Garda S&#237;och&#225;na
(Irish Police)


Golfing Union of
Ireland


Government of
Ireland


Green Party



Top of Page


H


Health &amp;amp; Safety
Authority


Health Insurance
Authority


Health Research
Board


Health Service
Executive (HSE)


Heritage
Council of Ireland


Higher Education and
Training Council


Higher Education
Authority


History
Ireland


Horse Racing
Ireland


Housing Finance
Agency



Top of Page


I


Iarnr&#243;d
&#201;ireann


IDA Ireland


International
Financial Services Centre


International Fund for Ireland


Intertrade Ireland


Irish Aid


Irish Aviation
Authority


Irish Blood
Transfusion Service


Irish Business and
Employers Confederation


Irish Congress of
Trade Unions


Irish Courts
Service


Irish Defence
Forces


Irish
Examiner


Irish Greyhound
Board


Irish
Independent


Irish Museum of
Modern Art


Irish
National Stud Company Limited


Irish Research
Council for the Humanities&amp;amp; Social Studies


Irish Rugby
Football Union


Irish
Sports Council


Irish Times


Irish Water Safety



Top of Page


J



Top of Page


K


 
Top of Page


L


Labour


Labour Relations
Commission


Law Reform
Commission



Top of Page


M


Met &#201;ireann



Top of Page


N


National
Archives


National Building Agency


National Cancer
Registry Board


National Centre for Partnership and Performance


National Concert
Hall


National Council on
Ageing and Older People


National
Crime Council


National Development
Plan


National Disability
Authority


National Economic and Social Council


National Economic and
Social Forum


National
Gallery of Ireland


National Library of
Ireland


National Lottery


National
Microelectronics Applications Centre


National Museum of
Ireland


National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland


National Roads
Authority


National Standards
Authority of Ireland


National Treasury
Management Agency


North South Ministerial Council


Northern Ireland
Human Rights Commission


Northern Ireland
Office


Northern Ireland Policing Board



Top of Page


O


Office of Civil
Service &amp;amp; Local Appointments Commissioner


Office of
the Attorney General


Office of the
Comptroller and Auditor General


Office of the
Data Protection Commissioner


Office of the
Director of Corporate Enforcement


Office of the
First Minister and Deputy First Minister


Office of the
Information Commissioner


Office of the
Ombudsman


Office of
the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland


Office of Public
Works


Office of the
Revenue Commissioners


Office of Tobacco
Control


Olympic
Council of Ireland


Ordnance Survey
Ireland



Top of Page


P


Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland


Police Service
of Northern Ireland


An Post


President of
Ireland


Press Council
of Ireland (and Press Ombudsman)



Top of Page


Q



Top of Page


R


Radiological
Protection Institute of Ireland


Radio One


Radio Teilif&#237;s
&#201;ireann


Railway Procurement
Agency


Referendum
Commission


Reach Unit


Top of Page


S


Science Foundation
Ireland


Shannon
Development


Shannon Free
Airport Development


Sinn F&#233;in


Special
Olympics Ireland


Standards in Public
Office Commission


Sunday Business
Post


Sunday
Independent


Sunday
Times


Sustainable Energy
Ireland



Top of Page


T


Teagasc


TG4


The Arts
Council


The Environmental
Information Service


The
European Ombudsman


The National
Theatre Society


The
Northern Ireland Assembly


The
Northern Ireland Executive


The Sunday
Times


Tourism
Ireland (Corporate Website)


Tourism
Ireland (Consumer Website)



Top of Page


U


&#218;daras na
Gaeltachta


United Nations



Top of Page


V


Veterinary Council


Visit
Dublin



Top of Page


W


Western Development
Commission


The
Workers' Party


Top of Page


X


Top of Page


Y


Top of Page


Z


Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:01:58 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Consular Fees]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75520</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Fees are charged for certain consular services such as issuing
passports and visas, foreign birth registrations, authentication of
documents and administering oaths. These fees are fixed by the
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade by way of Statutory
Instrument issued under Section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular
Officers (Provision of Services) Act, 1993.


Please note that the fees charged for some diplomatic and
consular services will increase on 1 March 2013. The full
list of fees is available 
here (PDF 177kb) .


Please note also that there may be additional administration
charges when availing of these services abroad. Please check
with the Embassy which payment methods are acceptable before
sending any payments.


---------------------------





Gearrtar t&#225;ill&#237; as seirbh&#237;s&#237; consalachta &#225;irithe cos&#250;il le
heisi&#250;int pasanna agus v&#237;osa&#237;, cl&#225;r&#250; breitheanna eachtracha,
f&#237;ordheimhni&#250; c&#225;ip&#233;is&#237; agus daoine a chur faoi mhionn. Socra&#237;onn an
tAire Gn&#243;tha&#237; Eachtracha na t&#225;ill&#237; seo tr&#237; mhe&#225;n Ionstraim
Reacht&#250;il eisithe faoi Alt 33 den Acht um Oifigigh Taidhleoireachta
agus Chonsalachta (Sol&#225;thar Seirbh&#237;s&#237;), 1993.


Tabhair faoi deara, le do thoil, go bhfuil t&#225;ill&#237; &#225;irithe
taidhleoireachta agus conslachta ag &#225;rd&#250; &#243; 1&#250; M&#225;rta 2013. T&#225; liosta
ioml&#225;n de na t&#225;ill&#237; ar f&#225;il 
anseo (PDF 175kb) .


Tabhair faoi deara freisin go bhf&#233;adfadh t&#225;ill&#237; riarach&#225;in bhreise
bheith i gceist m&#225; bhaineann t&#250; leas as na seirbh&#237;s&#237; seo thar
lear. D&#233;an tagairt leis an Ambas&#225;id chun na modhanna
&#237;oca&#237;ochta &#225;t&#225; inghlachta a shocr&#250; roimh aon &#237;oca&#237;ocht a dh&#233;anamh.




]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:19:32 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Marriage Abroad]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75521</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Please contact the town hall where the wedding will take place to
get the full list of documents required to get married in your
area. For information: http://www.ucm.org.cy/Index.aspx?Language=ENG


Irish citizens who wish to marry in Cyprus must receive a
certificate of freedom to marry from the Embassy. This
document is known as a “certificat de coutume”.


The relevant forms can be downloaded below. It is important
that all forms are either type-written or completed in
block-capitals to ensure that the information provided is
legible.


Persons under 18 years of age should contact the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade before completing an application for a
Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta.


(Please Note: Applicants who are entering into a same
sex union abroadshould contact Consular Section in either
Dublin or Cork, if resident in Ireland, or if abroad their nearest
Diplomatic or Consular Mission, for the appropriate application
forms).


Supporting documents required


All documents in languages other than English or Irishshould
be accompanied by a translation. In all cases, the following
documents are required for each Irish person:


- Completed MP1 Form (PDF 430kb)
   (Questionnaire to be completed by allIrish citizens
   seeking a “Certificate de Coutume” for marriage abroad)


- Completed MP2A form (PDF 425kb)
(Statutory Declaration by Irish citizen seeking a “Certificat de
Coutume” for marriage abroad)


OR completed MP2B form (PDF 709kb)
   (statutory declaration by a divorcedIrish citizen -
   for divorces outside Ireland)


OR completed MP2E form (PDF 509kb)
   (statutory declaration by a divorced Irish citizen in the case
   of an Irish divorce)


- Original long form birth certificate


- Irish passport


- Fee of €60.00


If an Irish citizen who wishes to marry in Cyprus has previously
been divorced, they shouldalso provide the following:


- Original petition of divorce


- Original Final decree of divorce


Completing your statutory declaration form


In all cases, the statutory declaration form must be completed in
person either at the Embassy or before a Cypriot Registrar,
Notary Public, a Commissioner for Oaths, or an equivalent person
authorised to administer oaths or declarations in that place.
If you wish to have your form witnessed at the Embassy, please
contact us at 00357-22-818183 for an appointment with a diplomatic
or consular officer.


Timing


Applicants are advised to apply well in advance of the wedding.


Once issued, the Certificate de Coutumeis valid for 120 days
from the date of issue.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:44:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Authentication of Documents]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75518</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Introduction


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille documents executed in Ireland that are to be
used in other countries.Irish Diplomatic and
Consular Missions abroad can legalise documents executed
abroad for use in Ireland.

Authenticating a document simply means confirming that a signature,
seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine.
Legalising a document means authenticating it for the purpose of
making it acceptable to an Irish court.

Authentication and Legalisation do not mean that the content of a
document is accurate or that the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Tradeapproves of the content.


_____________________________________________________________


Why do documents need to be Authenticated\Apostilled?


If you are going to use Irish documents overseas, for business or
personal reasons, you may be asked to have your documents
Authenticated\Apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade. You should therefore confirm with the authority to whom you
are presenting the documents what their requirements are with
regard to Authentication\Legalisation.


_____________________________________________________________


What is an Apostille?


The 1961 Hague Convention abolished the requirement for Foreign
Public Documents (e.g. birth, death and marriage certificates,
documents issued by a Notary Public) to be legalised for countries
that are parties to the Convention. The Convention entered into
force for Ireland on 9 March 1999. For further information on the
Hague Convention please access their website.

However, countries that are parties to the Convention may request
the bearer of a document issued by a public authority to obtain an
Apostille from the Authorities of the country that issued the
document.

An Apostille involves the addition of a certificate, either stamped
on the document itself or attached to it. It certifies the country
of origin of the document, the identity and capacity in which the
document has been signed and the name of any authority which has
affixed a seal or stamp to the document.


_____________________________________________________________


Documents we can Authenticate\Apostille


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille documents of Irish origin provided that they
bear an original signature, seal or stamp from an Irish practising
public official or organisation. An Irish document means that it
originated or has been executed in Ireland. If a practising Irish
solicitor, Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths is signing a
document they should state clearly what exactly it is they are
certifying in relation to the document. They must sign their own
name and not use a company signature.


_____________________________________________________________


Examples of Documents the Department can Authenticate\Apostille
are:


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille public documents which have been executed in
the territory of One Contracting State and which have to be
produced in the territory of another Contracting State.


Examples:



Original certificates issued by the General Registers
Office (GRO)


Company documents issued by the Companies Registration Office


Documents signed by the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland


Court documents, Powers of Attorney, and other Notarial Acts can be
Authenticated provided they bear an original signature, seal or
stamp from a practising Irish solicitor\ Notary Public in Ireland


Educational Certificates can be Authenticated provided they fall
within the National Framework of Qualifications established by the
National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland\are recognised
by the Department of Education.


We can also Authenticate\Apostille medical reports signed by a
doctor who is registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.


Garda Clearance letters confirming a person's details for Consular
purposes must be issued from the Superintendent's Office of the
Garda station where you last resided in Ireland. This letter
must bear an original stamp and signature of the Garda Sioch&#225;na.



An appointment is necessary for large numbers of documents and for
full foreign adoption dossiers.


Photocopies of DocumentsWe can
Authenticate\Apostille photocopies of certain types of documents
provided they have been certified by a practising Irish Solicitor
or Notary Public in Ireland. However, you should in the first
instance confirm with the authority to whom you are presenting the
document that a certified copy will be acceptable to them.


_____________________________________________________________


How to get your Document Authenticated\Apostilled


Documents that have been executed in Ireland, and which are to be
Authenticated or Apostilled by the Department can be:


Presented to the Department at its Public Office at the following
address:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Hainault House
69 - 71 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2


or sent via post to:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2


Documents sent by post must include the
following:
A brief covering letter stating your name, return address,
telephone number, you must state what country the document(s) are
for use in, and you must include the appropriate
fee.


Tel. (01) 408 2174
(01) 408 2322
(01) 408 2557
(01) 408 2576

For the Munster area:


Consular Services,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
1A South Mall,
Cork

Tel: 021 4944765 / 021 4944766


Opening Hours:The opening hours for the
Public Offices in Dublin and Cork are as follows:
Monday - Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
0930 - 1300
1430 - 1600

FeesA fee of €40 is charged for each
Apostille or Authentication. There is a standard fee of
€100 for a series of Apostilles or Authentications in
relation to inter-country adoptions. All Post Placement Reports
have a fee of €40.00


Please note that there may be an additional administration fee if
applying for these services from our officesabroad. Fees will
be notified on request.


Methods of Payment
This section relates to services available at the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Tradein Dublin and Cork.


Payment can be made by Cash, Bank Draft (made payable to the
'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade'), Irish Postal
Orderor by Credit/Debit card.


It should be noted that all bank draftsmust be drawn on an
Irish bank or a bank showing a connection with a bank in Ireland.
Personal cheques are no longer accepted.


_____________________________________________________________


E-Register Verification of Apostilles and
Authentications


The online electronic register enables you to verify the
authenticity of an Apostille or Authentication issued by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland from 01
January 2013.


In order to verify an Apostille or Authentication, please
click here


_____________________________________________________________


Legalisation


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad can legalise
documents executed abroad for use in Ireland.


Administering oaths, affirmations and
statutory declarations and certifying copies of documents:


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Officers abroad are empowered under
Irish law to administer oaths, affirmations and statutory
declarations. They can also certify copies of original Irish
documents or translations. 


If you require any of these services, contact your nearest
   Irish Diplomatic or Consular
   Mission.


The fee for these services in local currency and methods of payment
will be notified, on request, by the relevant Mission.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:47:12 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Embassy Closure Dates]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75485</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
The Embassy is normally open from Monday to Friday.


Please note that the Embassy will be closed for the
following public holidays in 2013:

Tuesday, 1st January (New Year’s
Day)
Friday, 15th March, for St. Patrick’s Day
Monday, 18th March, Green Monday (Orthodox)
Monday, 25th March, Greek National Day
Friday, 29th March, Good Friday (Catholic Easter)
Monday, 1st April, EOKA Day &amp;amp; Easter Monday
(Catholic Easter)
Wednesday, 1st May, Labour Day
Friday, 3rd May, Good Friday (Orthodox Easter)
Monday, 6th May, Easter Monday (Orthodox Easter)
Monday, 24th June, Whit Monday
Thursday, 15th August, Assumption Day
Tuesday, 1st October, Public Holiday (Independence Day
Cyprus)
Monday, 28th October, Greek National Day [OXI (Okhi)
Day]
Tuesday 25th December, Christmas Day
Wednesday, 26th December, St. Stephen’s Day




]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:15:25 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Legal]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=86451</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Copyright


The material featured on this site is subject to Government
copyright according to the Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000.
The material may be downloaded to file or printer for personal use
only. Where this material is being issued to others, the source
(including URL) and copyright status must be acknowledged.


The permission to reproduce Government copyright material does not
extend to any material on this site which may be the property of a
third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be
obtained from the copyright holders concerned.


Disclaimer


The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide
only. They are intended to enhance public access to information
about the Government and its Departments. While every effort is
made in preparing material for publication no responsibility is
accepted by or on behalf of the State for any errors, omissions or
misleading statements on these pages or any site to which these
pages connect.


Although every effort is made to ensure the reliability of listed
sites this cannot be taken as an endorsement of these sites.


Privacy


The Department of Foreign Affairs respects the rights of its users
and does not, as a general rule, collect personal information of
any kind. Where a user voluntarily provides personal information
through a traveller registration, media accreditation or “contact
us” form, the data will be used only for the purposes for which it
is provided, and not passed to any third party, except where
information is specifically provided for use in the case of
emergency assistance to Irish citizens overseas.


For general web browsing no personal information is revealed to us,
although certain statistical information is available to us via our
Internet service provider. This information may include the logical
address of the server you are using, the top level domain name from
which you access the Internet (for example, .ie, .com, etc), the
type of browser you are using, the date and time you access our
site and the Internet address used to link to our site.


Some of the above information is used to create summary statistics,
which allow us to assess the number of visitors to our site,
identify what pages are accessed most frequently. We use these
statistics to help us make our site more user friendly.


Cookies Policy


We use cookies to give the best experience on our site while
also complying with the guidelines of the 
Data Protection Acts 1988-2003.Continue without changing
your settings, and you'll receive cookies, or change your cookie
settings at any time.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:06:05 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75580</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Ireland’s Culture


Ireland has a rich cultural past and present. The traditional lore
preserved by the early Irish poets has left a colourful heritage of
mythical and historical stories. Modern writers in turn have drawn
on these stories to enrich their own work.



Top of Page


The Irish Language


Most people spoke Irish until the early nineteenth century but by
1891 the majority spoke English only. It is one of the celtic
family of languages and is closely related to scots Gaelic, Welsh
and Breton. Since Independence the state has actively encouraged
the use of Irish and it is the first official language with english
as the second. The latest figures show that 42% of all adults
declare a knowledge of Irish. It is widely spoken in areas known as
the Gaeltacht, situated mainly along the western seaboard.
the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs has
responsibility for promoting the cultural, social and economic
welfare of the Gaeltacht through &#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta
(Gaeltacht Authority). The Irish Language Agency (Foras
na Gaeilge) has responsibility for the promotion and
encouragement of the use of Irish as a vernacular throughout the
island of Ireland. Irish is a core subject in primary and secondary
schools and a growing number of schools offer tuition exclusively
through Irish (Gaelscoileanna). There is an Irish language
national radio service (Raidio na Gaeltachta) and an Irish
language television service (TG4). On 1 January 2007, the
Irish language became the 23rd official language of the European
Union.



Top of Page
 

Irish Literature


Irish writers have long made a significant contribution to world
literature in both the Irish and English languages. Written
literature in the Irish language dates from the sixth century. With
the end of the Gaelic order in the seventeenth century and its
tradition of patronage of poets, Irish writers began to preserve a
   record of the old civilisation. Through the eighteenth and
   nineteenth centuries members of the clergy, teachers and poets
   continued to write in Irish. One of the best known poets of this
   time is Brian Merriman (1747–1805) author of the frequently
   translated C&#250;irt an Mhe&#225;n O&#237;che (Midnight
   court). In the twentieth century writers such as Patrick
   Pearse (1879–1916) and P&#225;draic &#211; Conaire (1882–1928)
   opened Irish literature to European influences.
   Distinguished writers in Irish in the modern period
   include such diverse voices as Liam &#211; Flaitheartaigh
   (1896–1984), Mair&#233;ad N&#237; Ghr&#225;da (1896–1971), M&#225;irt&#237;n &#211;
   Cadhain (1906–70), M&#225;irt&#237;n &#211; Dire&#225;in (1910–88), Se&#225;n &#211;
   R&#237;ord&#225;in (1916–77), Michael Hartnett (1941–99), Cr&#237;ost&#243;ir &#211;
   Floinn (b. 1927), Gabriel Rosenstock (b. 1949), Liam &#211;
   Muirthile (b. 1950), Cathal &#211; Searcaigh (b. 1956) and
   Nuala N&#237; Dhomhnaill (b. 1952). In the english language,
   the satirist Jonathan swift (1667–1745) authored
   Gulliver’s Travels (1726). Oscar Wilde’s
   (1854–1900) plays, prose and poetry continue to be
   performed and read worldwide. Irish nobel laureates
   include the playwright and novelist George Bernard Shaw
   (1856–1950) and the poet and dramatist William
   Butler Yeats (1865–1939), whose work
   inspired the modernrenaissance in Irish
   writing. James Joyce (1882–1941) wrote the
   pioneering modernist novel, Ulysses
   (1922) — widely recognised as one of the
   greatest novels ever written. Joyce inspired
   the work of satirist Brian O’Nolan (Flann
   O’Brien) (1911–66), who also wrote in Irish.
   nobel laureate Samuel Beckett (1906–89) wrote
   in a minimalist vein, often in French. His
   play, Waiting for Godot (1953) has
   become a twentieth century classic of
   absurdism.





The generation of poets after Yeats included very different talents
in Patrick Kavanagh (1904–67). Kavanagh’s example as a poet of
rural realism inspired Seamus Heaney whose vision of the redemptive
power ofpoetry earned him the nobel Prize for Literature in 1995.
Irish fiction continues to be well received — in recent years,
several Irish writers have won the Man Booker Prize including Anne
Enright in 2007, John Banville in 2005 and Roddy Doyle in 1993.
Writers shortlisted for the prize include Colm T&#243;ib&#237;n (1999, 2004
and 2009), Sebastian Barry (2008) and Emma Donoghue (2010). Colum
Mccann's novel, “Let the Great World Spin” won the national Book
Award in the USA in 2009.


Irish theatre companies such as the Abbey, the Druid and the Gate
regularly tour their productions to international venues and host
the work of visiting theatre companies to Ireland.






Top of Page


Art


The earliest Irish art consists of carvings on megalithic monuments
dating from 3500 B.C. Celtic art reached its apogee in the
manuscripts of the gospels such as the books of Durrow and Kells.
After the ninth century Irish art absorbed Viking, Romanesque and
Gothic influences producing, for example, richly carved stone High
Crosses.


From the mid-seventeenth century decorative arts such as
goldsmithery, plasterwork and glass flourished in conjunction with
the large-scale public buildings of the time. In the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Irish painters looked to
the French Impressionists for a new idiom. These include William
Leech(1881–1968), Walter osborne (1859–1903), John Lavery
(1856–1941) and Roderic O’Conor (1860–1940). Crossing from
Impressionism to Expressionism, Jack B. Yeats (1871–1957) towers
over his contemporaries much as his brother, the poet W.B. Yeats,
was pre-eminent among his peers.



Other artists, working in an abstract expressionist mode, include
Louis le Brocquy, Norah McGuinness (1901–80) and Patrick Scott. A
strong new expressionist movement emerged in the late twentieth
century including Brian Maguire, Eithne Jordan, Michael Mulcahy,
Michael Cullen, Dorothy Cross and Alice Maher.


Sculpture in the nineteenth century was heroic and monumental as
exemplified by the statues of Oliver Goldsmith and Edmund Burke by
John Henry Foley (1819–1974) outside Trinity College, Dublin. This
tradition continued into the twentieth century with the works of
Oisin Kelly (1915–81), Seamus Murphy (1907–74) and Hilary Heron
(1923–77) pioneering the use of new casting techniques and
promoting the concept of an Irish vernacular sculpture.
Contemporary sculpture is more abstract and witty as can be seen in
the diverse work of Edward Delany (1930–2009), John Behan, Michael
Warren, Eilis O’Connell, Kathy Prendergast and Eileen MacDonagh.





Department of Arts,
Heritage and the Gaeltacht




Department of
Environment,and Local Government




Culture
Ireland




&#218;dar&#225;s na
Gaeltachta




The Arts
Council




Crafts Council of
Ireland




Ireland
Literature Exchange






Top of Page


Architecture


The earliest examples of architecture visible in Ireland today are
megalithic tombs (3500–2000 B.c.). these include dolmens (three
ormore standing stones supporting
   one or two capstones) and passage graves such as Newgrange.
   Stone Age techniques survived into the twelfth century and are
   still visible in the beehive structure of early churches and
   monasteries such as those on Skellig Michael and Gallarus
   Oratory in County Kerry. During the Iron Age (after 500 B.c.)
   large circular stone forts were built, usually on hilltops such
   as Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands.


The Round tower is almost exclusive to Ireland and is found in many
parts of the country. Built from the tenth to the twelfth centuries
on monastic sites, the most notable being at Clonmacnoise in County
Offaly, round towers were frequently more than 30 metres high.
Their primary purpose seems to have been to serve as bell towers
although the raised level of the doorway would suggest they may
also have had defensive uses.


After this period, Romanesque architecture with its intricate
andornate carved stonework influenced the shape of Irish churches,
the finest examples being Cormac’s Chapel on the Rock of Cashel in
County Tipperary and Clonfert Cathedral in County Galway. The
arrival of the Anglo-Normans heralded the introduction of the early
Gothic style of architecture, with the two Dublin cathedrals,
Christ Church and Saint Patrick’s, being the most notable. The
Normans built substantial castles with large rectangular keeps,
many of which, like Trim in County Meath and Carrickfergus in
County Antrim, still figure on the landscape. The fifteenth century
castle at Cahir in County Tipperary is the most impressive of the
surviving feudal strongholds.





Classical buildings date from the late seventeenth century. At the
turn of the eighteenth century Palladian mansions were emulating
Italian palazzos, but by the end of the century, this style had
given way to neo-classicism and Dublin became an outstanding
example of Georgian architecture. Key buildings from this period
include the Custom House and the Four Courts in Dublin, with their
distinctive copper domes, designed by James Gandon (1743–1823). By
the nineteenth century Gothic revivalism was in vogue influencing
the design of churches such as Saint Finn Barre’s Cathedral (1867)
in Cork and adapted to domestic architecture in the construction of
Ashford Castle (c.1870), County Mayo.



Topof Page


Music


Music has always been an important part of Irish culture, from the
traditional accompaniment to festivals and funerals in the form of
playing and ballad singing, to Irish dancing which is very much
alive in Irish communities around the world. The harp was the
dominant instrument in early historical times. One of the earliest
Irish composers whose work survives is Turlough O’Carolan
(1670–1738), the blind harpist and one of the last of the ancient
bardic tradition.


There is also a classical tradition in the forms pioneered by
otherEuropean composers. Eighteenth
   century Dublin was an important musical centre and Handel chose
   to premiere his Messiah there in 1742. In the twentieth
   century traditional Irish music inspired modern composers such
   as Se&#225;n &#211; Riada (1931–71). Count John McCormack (1884–1945) was
   a world famous Irish tenor.


Traditional Irish music is now popular in many countries through
the influence of groups as diverse as Clannad, the Chieftains,
Altan, Dervish, L&#250;nasa and An&#250;na, all of whom perform in a modern
context without compromising the integrity of the original sound.
Reflecting this versatility is the phenomenon of Riverdance,
with music composed by Bill Whelan, combining the best of Irish
song, music and dance. Comhaltas Ceolt&#243;ir&#237; &#201;ireann plays a
prominent part in the development and preservation of Irish
traditional music and dance.


On the jazz scene guitarist Louis Stewart has played with leading
international musicians. Bands such as U2 and Westlife are famous
at home and abroad, as are individual singers such as Van Morrison,
Sin&#233;ad O’Connor and Enya.


There are three full–time professional orchestras performing in
Ireland. The national opera company was founded in 2010 forged from
two state-funded companies, Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre
Company. There is also a wealth of individual classical musical
talent such as the well known pianist John O’Conor and singers Ann
Murray and Suzanne Murphy.



Top of Page


Film


Films have been made in and about Ireland since the Lumi&#233;re
Brothers filmed in Sackville (now O’Connell) Street in 1897.
In 1910 the American, Sidney Olcott, filmed The Lad from Old
Ireland in New York and Kerry, the first film ever made on two
continents. Ireland has since played host to many international
directors — Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Francis Ford Coppola, John
Huston and Steven Spielberg.


Throughout the last century Irish film makers were prolific in
theirproduction of amateur films, newsreels, documentaries
and informational films. It was not until the 1970s however that a
new wave of indigenously produced fiction films began to provide a
striking alternative to foreign produced representations of
Ireland.


The work of Irish producers, directors and screen writers is
facilitated by the Irish Film Board who fund production and
distribution of feature films, shorts, animated films and Irish
language productions. Irish films have enjoyed international
acclaim such as Michael Collins (Neil Jordan 1996), I
Went Down (Paddy Breathnach 1997), The General (John
Boorman 1998), The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Ken Loach
2006) winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and Once (John
Carney 2006), winner of an Academy Award for best original song.


Annual film festivals in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast showcase
Irish and international films while a year–round venue for art
house cinema is provided at the Irish Film Centre in Dublin, the
Kino in Cork and the town Hall in Galway. The Irish animator,
Richard Baneham, won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and a
BAFTA Award for special Visual effects for his work on Avatar,
2010.





The National
Theatre Society




National Concert
Hall




National
Archives




Irish Museum of
Modern Art




National
Gallery of Ireland




National Library of
Ireland




National Museum of
Ireland




Chester Beatty
Library




Irish Research
Council for the Humanities &amp;amp; Social Studies




An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna




Bord Scann&#225;n na
h&#201;ireann






Top of Page


Sport


Among the most popular sports are Ireland’s traditional games,
gaelic football, hurling and camogie, which are played almost
exclusively in Ireland and in Irish communities abroad. Games in
the All-Ireland hurling and football championships attract large
attendances throughout the summer months culminating in the finals,
the highlight of Ireland’s sporting year, which are held in Croke
Park in Dublin.





Soccer is popular at all ages from school to senior level in
domestic competitions. the Irish International team, which plays as
the Republic of Ireland, has over the past number of years enjoyed
some success and is well supported by enthusiastic and friendly
fans.


Rugby football is popular in Ireland at international, club and
schools level. The sport is managed by the Irish Rugby Football
Union (IRFU). Ireland competes in the international annual Six
Nations Championship, winning the tournament in 2009.





Ireland has a strong reputation for field sports such as shooting,
fishing and also for equestrian events, show jumping and horse
racing. The Irish bloodstock industry is considered one of the
finest in the world.


As Ireland has over 3,000 kilometres of coastline and numerous
inland waterways, sailing and boating are long-established sports.
A wide range of marine leisure activities such as fishing,
water-skiing, canoeing, wind-surfing, diving and swimming are also
pursued.





Over 400 golf courses offer facilities through the country.
All-Ireland teams compete in international amateur golfing
competitions with the major Irish tournaments on the international
professional circuit being the Irish Open and the Smurfit European
Open. The Ryder Cup was held in Ireland in 2006, with top
Irish golfers P&#225;draig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley
contributing to the European team’s victory over the United States.
Harrington later went on to become a three times ‘Majors’ winner,
winning the British open championship in July 2007 and in 2008, and
the US PGA in 2008.


Ireland has a history of successfully hosting prestigious sporting
events and hosted the special olympics in June 2003. This was the
largest sporting event ever to take place in Ireland. Over 7,000
special athletes from 160 countries came to Ireland to participate
in this unique sporting achievement.








Irish
Sports Council




Football Association
of Ireland




Irish Rugby Football
Union




Gaelic Association of
Ireland




Horse
Racing Ireland




Golfing Union of
Ireland




Special
Olympics Ireland




Olympic
Council of Ireland






Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:51:11 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Who needs a Visa?]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75508</link>
					<description><![CDATA[       


Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2012


Citizens of certain countries require an entry visa for Ireland.


If you are a citizen of a country that is on Schedule 1 of
the Immigration Act above,you do
NOT require an entry visa for Ireland. Citizens of
countries which are not on the list must apply for a visa
before they travel to Ireland.


If you are a citizen of a country that is on Schedule
2 of the Immigration Act above,you may be able to
travel to Ireland if you have a valid U.K. General C Visa and meet
Visa WaiverProgramme requirements. For
details of this programme please clickhere (PDF 1825kb) .


Otherwise, If you area national ofa visa-required
country you will need to apply for an Irish visa in advance of
travel to Ireland.


Please note that a Schengen visaor UK D visa
is not valid for travel to Ireland.


Transit Visasare required by citizens of the
countries listed in Schedule3of the Immigration
Act above.

Please note all citizens of non-EU countries, whether they require
a visa or not, are subject to immigration control at the point of
entry to Ireland.


Applicants who are holders of Convention travel
documents issued by EEA states should refer to Article 3
of theImmigration Act above
(Short-stayvisits only).




]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:06:17 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Citizenship]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75519</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Entitlement to Citizenship : Click here


Foreign Births Registration :Click
here


Naturalisation : Click here

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:34:34 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Citizenship]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75519</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Entitlement to Citizenship


The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible
for determining entitlement to citizenship in accordance with the
Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2004.

Every person born on the island of Ireland before 1 January, 2005
is entitled to be an Irish citizen.


The citizenship of a person born on the island of Ireland on or
after 1 January, 2005 depends on the citizenship of the person's
parents at the time of the person's birth or the residency history
of one of the parents prior to the birth. An information notice explaining the changes that have
taken effect since 01 January 2005 is available from the website of
the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.


Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2004, a
person who was born outside Ireland is automatically an Irish
citizen by descent if one of that person's parents was an Irish
citizen who was born in Ireland.


Foreign Births Registration


Important information as of 4 September 2012


The Department of Foreign Affairs andTradeis
currently updating its procedures for the receipt of Foreign
Birth’s Registration (FBR) applications. This upgrade of the FBR
system is part of our ongoing commitment to improve our service to
the public. The system is intended to make it
easier and more convenient for applicants to access our service and
to advise on the FBR process.


The new systemwill comprise of an on-line application
process which will be available electronically from the
Department’s website. 


The system was due to go live week beginning 01 October
2012. However, the Department is at present experiencing a
slight technical difficulty with the online facility. We are
working to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency. We
regret any inconvenience caused to customers by this
delay.


We will update this message on a daily basis until the
matter is resolved.


In the interim this Department, either directly or
through our Missions overseas, is not accepting FBR applications
for processing (except in very exceptional circumstances) by
post.


We apologise for any inconvenience that these changes may
incur for applicants, however, the new system will provide
for a more speedy approval of applications received
throughout our network of Missions.


Should you have any difficulties in the short term, prior
to the electronic system going live, please contact your nearest
Irish Mission or the Consular Services Section here in
Dublin, www.dfat.ie, for
advice.


A person born abroad to a parent who, although not born in Ireland,
was otherwise an Irish citizen at the time of the person’s birth,
can become an Irish citizen by applying for Foreign Births
Registration, either to the Irish Diplomatic or
Consular Mission nearest to where the applicant normally
residesor, if resident in Ireland, to:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Telephone: (10.00-13.00)(01) 408 2555

For the Munster area:
Consular Services,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
1A South Mall,
Cork
Telephone: (10.00-13.00) 021 4944763 

Details of the requirements for Foreign Births Registration will be
provided on request by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Tradeor the relevant Mission.


Please note that the application forms below are for
information purposes only. No applications for Foreign Birth
Registration arecurentlybeing accepted until the new
online application system is available.


 FBR Application Form FB1A (PDF
   470kb)- for Applicantsover 18 years.
 FBR Application Form FB1B (PDF 493kb)
   - for Applicants under 18years.


Each applicant for Foreign Births Registration is required to
produce sufficient documentation including birth, marriage and
death certificates and other relevant records for him/herself and
the parent, (and grandparent, if relevant) through whom
citizenship is claimed to confirm the applicant's
entitlement to Irish citizenship.


Details of related fees in local currencies will be provided on
request by the Department of Foreign Affairs andTradeor
the Irish Diplomatic or Consular Mission nearest to where the
applicant normally resides.


Where Foreign Births Registration is applied for on the basis of
having a grandparent who was born in Ireland, the
followingoriginal documents are required in addition to the
completed application form:


Documents relatingto the APPLICANT:



Full civil birth certificate (including details of parents);


Civil marriage certificate (if applicable);


Copy of current passport or identity document;


Two photographs of applicant (signed and dated by the witness from
Section E on application form);


Copy of Identification (If a child does not hold a current passport
then a school report or letter from the school will suffice);


Proof of Address;


Application form completed in full;


Appropriate fee.



Documents relating to the PARENT (through whom citizenship is
claimed):
(Thesecertificates MUST be included)



Full civil birth certificate (including details of parents);


Civil marriage certificate (if applicable);


Copy of current passport or identity document, if alive, or death
certificate;


If applicationrelates toa minor, parent must supply
proof of address;


If parent has been naturalized or obtained foreign birth
registration, original certificates must accompany the application.



Documents relating to the GRANDPARENT BORN IN IRELAND from
whom citizenship is claimed:



Full civil birth certificate if born after 1864, otherwise a
baptismal certificate; together with proof that no civil
registration exists;


Civil marriage certificate (if applicable);


Copy of current passport or identity document, if alive, or death
certificate;



It should be noted that additional information may be requested in
support of the application.

Where the person to be registered is under 18 years, the declarant
(parent) must sign the declaration on the application form
and provide two of his/her own photographs(signed and dated by the
witness from Section E of the application form).

Irish Birth, Marriage and Death certificates may be obtained from
the General Registrar's Office. For more detailed information
please click here.


Additional information for applications being made through the
Embassy of
Ireland in London
orThe
Consulate in Edinburgh.


Naturalisation


Consideration of all applications for Irish citizenship by
naturalisation is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality
and Law Reform. Further information concerning naturalisation is
available from the website of the Department of Justice, Equality
and Law Reform.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:54:57 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[The Irish State]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75571</link>
					<description><![CDATA[


Name of State



Island of Ireland



Language



Flag



Emblem



Anthem



The National Day



Government



Political Parties



Local Government



The Courts



Police &amp;amp; Defence Forces



Name of State


The Irish constitution provides that the name of the state is
&#201;ire or in the english language, Ireland.




Top of Page


Island of Ireland


The geographical island of Ireland consists of the sovereign
independent state of Ireland comprising 26 counties, and the six
counties of northern Ireland to the north-east of the island, which
are governed by a power-sharing Executive and Assembly as
established under the Good Friday Agreement.



Top of Page


Language


Article 8 of the Irish Constitution makes the following
affirmation:



The Irish language as the national language is the first official
language.


The English language is recognised as a second official language.



More information about the Irish Language, is availablein the
Schools Project Corner .



Top of Page


Flag


The national flag is a tricolour of
   green, white and orange.



Top of Page


Emblem


The harp has been regarded as the
   official symbol or coat of arms of Ireland since medieval times.
   The heraldic harp is used by the Government, its agencies and
   its representatives at home and abroad. It is engraved on the
   seal matrix of the Office of the President as well as on the
   obverse of Irish euro coins.


 
Top of Page


Anthem


Amhr&#225;n na bhFiann (Soldier’s Song) is the Irish national
Anthem.



Top of Page


The National Day


saint Patrick’s Day, 17 March, is the national Day. tradition holds
that the use of the shamrock by Saint Patrick when preaching in
Ireland led to its adoption as an Irish symbol.


St Patricks
Day Festival



Top of Page


Government


Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. Its law is based on common
Law and legislation enacted by the Oireachtas (Irish
Parliament) under the constitution. In addition, regulations and
directives enacted by the European Union have the force of law in
Ireland.


The constitution of Ireland sets out the form of government and
defines the powers and functions of the President, both Houses of
the Oireachtas and the Government. It also defines the
structures and the powers of the courts and outlines the
fundamental rights of citizens. The definition of rights covers
five broad headings: Personal Rights, The Family, Education,
Private Property and Religion





Government of
Ireland




President of
Ireland




Fine Gael




Labour




Fianna F&#225;il




Sinn F&#233;in




Irish
Government News Service









Top of Page


Local Government


The local government system is administered by 114 local
authorities and is undergoing a process of renewal and reform.


The services provided by the local authorities include: housing and
building, road transportation and safety, water supply and
sewerage, development incentives and controls, environmental
protection and waste management, recreation and amenity, education,
health and welfare, and miscellaneous services.


Local government is funded partly by central government and partly
by local sources including motor tax proceeds, rates (on commercial
property) and local charges such as environmental waste charges,
rents etc.


Department of the
Environment, Communityand Local Government



Top of Page


The Courts


Irish law is based on common Law as modified by subsequent
legislation and by the constitution of 1937. In accordance with the
constitution, justice is administered in public by courts
established by law. The President appoints judges on the advice of
the Government.





Department of
Justice and Law Reform




Irish Courts
Service




Director of
Public Prosecutions




Office of
the Attorney General





Top of Page 


Police and Defence Forces


The national police force, An Garda S&#237;och&#225;na, was
established in 1922. The general direction, management and control
of the service is, subject to regulations made by the Minister for
Justice and Law Reform, vested in a commissioner appointed by the
Government.


An Garda S&#237;och&#225;na is unarmed with the exception of some
specialized units. Since 1989, An Garda S&#237;och&#225;na have served
in numerous United Nations (UN) missions around the world. They
have also served under the EU flag in the former Yugoslavia,
Macedonia and Eastern Slavonia and have provided monitors for the
South African and Palestinian elections.


The Permanent Defence Forces, which include the regular Army, Naval
Service and Air Corps, operate under the auspices of the Department
of Defence. The Department is also responsible for the general
planning, organisation and co-ordination of Civil Defence measures.
Recruitment is voluntary. The Defence Forces have extensive
peacekeeping experience and have served under UN mandate in UN, EU
and NATO led peace support operations all over the world since
1958.





Department of
Justice andEquality




Garda S&#237;och&#225;na
(Irish Police)




Garda
Ombudsman




Department of
Defence




Irish Defence
Forces







Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:45:59 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Invitation from President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=88033</link>
					<description><![CDATA[







Closing date is 29 September 2012.

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is inviting young Irish
people (aged 17 to 26) worldwide to take charge of change and share
their vision for Ireland with him. The President believes
young people are a source of wisdom and can help resolve Ireland's
social, political, economic and cultural issues. He wants to
gather your suggestions and ideas for change and have them
reflected in his Presidency. 

Share your views in writing, audio and/or video format and find out
more by logging on to www.president.ie/youngandirish.
Also on Google+, Facebook at www.facebook.com/youngandirish
and Twitter #youngandirish

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:54:30 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Lost Passport?]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=75498</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The Passport Office, in accordance with EU regulations in relation
to reported lost or stolen passports, is now advising international
authorities, through Interpol, of all passports reported to the
Passport Office as having been lost or stolen.


Any passport that is reported as lost or stolen is no longer
a valid travel document.


If it is recovered, it should be returned to the Passport Office
for cancellation. Care should be taken to avoid its use for travel
purposes


If you lose your passport, or if it is stolen, you should
immediately report the loss to the Passport
Officeor your nearest Irish Embassy or
Consulate. You will be asked to confirm this in writing,
or if you are applying for a new passport to include the details
along with your passport application.


To obtain a new passport you should complete a passport application
form [APS1 if resident in the State, APS2 if resident
elsewhere]. This should be witnessed by a member of An Garda
S&#237;och&#225;na if you are resident in the State or by one of the eligible
witnesses listed on the APS2 form if you live elsewhere. The
application form includes a section [Section 6 - Statement of Loss]
to enable you to provide details or the circumstances of the loss
of the passport.  You should provide a full explanation of
the circumstances.


When applying for your new passport you must resubmit your
documents showing your proof of citizenship as if you were applying
for the first time, please refer to First
time adult applicants/Lost and stolen passports for
requirements.


If you have a poor passport record, ie have lost two or more
passports, it is likely that only very limited passport facilities
will be given for specific travel purposes. On each occasion
on which a passport is issued, even when this is a limited validity
passport, the full passport fee will be payable.



Remember: Your passport is a valuable document so keep it in a safe
place while you are at home and look after it carefully when you
are travelling.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:27:58 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[First time adult applicants/Lost and stolen passports]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=86532</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The Passport Office, in accordance with EU regulations in relation
to reported lost or stolen passports, is now advising international
authorities, through Interpol, of all passports reported to the
Passport Office as having been lost or stolen.


Any passport that is reported as lost or stolen is no longer
a valid travel document.


If it is recovered, it should be returned to the Passport Office
for cancellation. Care should be taken to avoid its use for travel
purposes


If you lose your passport, or if it is stolen, you should
immediately report the loss to the Passport
Officeor your nearest Irish Embassy or
Consulate. You will be asked to confirm this in writing,
or if you are applying for a new passport to include the details
along with your passport application.


To obtain a new passport you should complete a passport application
form [APS1 if resident in the State, APS2 if resident
elsewhere]. This should be witnessed by a member of An Garda
S&#237;och&#225;na if you are resident in the State or by one of the eligible
witnesses listed on the APS2 form if you live elsewhere. The
application form includes a section [Section 6 - Statement of Loss]
to enable you to provide details or the circumstances of the loss
of the passport.  You should provide a full explanation of
the circumstances.


When applying for your new passport you must resubmit your
documents showing your proof of citizenship as if you were applying
for the first time, please refer to First
time adult applicants/Lost and stolen passports for
requirements.


If you have a poor passport record, ie have lost two or more
passports, it is likely that only very limited passport facilities
will be given for specific travel purposes. On each occasion
on which a passport is issued, even when this is a limited validity
passport, the full passport fee will be payable.



Remember: Your passport is a valuable document so keep it in a safe
place while you are at home and look after it carefully when you
are travelling.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:27:58 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
		
	</channel>
</rss>
