The Celtic island in liberal and globalized mode
Ireland today is a truly liberal country at its best, but also at its worst. Ireland is a stable democracy based on the separation of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, in which political rights and civil liberties are respected and upheld, and in which elections are free and contested among several political parties. Its political organization is a parliamentary democracy. Political power is vested in the people and their representatives, the deputies. The president is elected for a seven-year term, with a maximum of two terms, by the Irish people. The candidate who wins the election becomes President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann) by taking the public oath set out in the Bunreacht na hÉireann. Power is vested in Parliament, which passes the law. The President exercises his sub-parliamentary power. Most decisions or initiatives of the President are subject to the assent of the Government. He is the head of the army. He is often an intellectual, an academic, a member of civil society, embodying Irish values. He sometimes stirs the spirits, he spurs on. He gives meaning, direction, he unites all Irish people, he embodies the Irish nation. He is also the face of Ireland, of its constancy, of its changes, of its mutations. Twice, the president has been a woman: Mary Robinson (1990-1997) and Mary McAleese (1997-2011). Mary Robinson achieved a spectacular 93% support and approval rate for her policies, unheard of in other democracies. She brought about significant societal transformation. Mary Robinson, a lawyer, was instrumental in decriminalizing homosexuality, legalizing contraception, legalizing divorce, allowing women to serve on juries and securing the right to legal aid in civil cases in Ireland. She was the face of Irish renewal, focusing on human rights, democratization of government, the environment and development aid or economic development. Mary McAleese was the first President of the Republic born in Northern Ireland. Currently, Michael D. Higgins (D for Daniel), a former Labour leader and former Minister of Culture, will serve a second term in 2025. Critics point to his fiscal and financial laxity and his socialist orientation. Should we also see in Ireland the difficult transformation of historical parties, as in the rest of Europe?
The border, the Gordian knot of the Brexit
The Brexit, therefore the exit of Britain from Europe, can reopen the wounds of the Northern Irish conflict. What does a new border between Great Britain and Europe mean?
Europe is a large market with important economic stakes. To join it is to benefit from advantages, but in return it obliges one to respect rules in order to benefit from the free movement of people and goods.
Once again, the difficulty arises from the obligation to establish a border between Europe and Great Britain. France knows the problem with the situation in Calais. Choosing where to put the border of Europe, amounts - despite all the goodwill put into action - to taking sides for one or the other. This is undoubtedly the thorn in the side of the negotiators of the agreement on Britain's exit from Europe. The agreements must be enforced and all goods leaving Great Britain, and therefore Northern Ireland, must be required to present valid travel permits. The negotiators have brought to the particular situation of Ireland a special agreement in two successive stages. A first agreement: the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, followed by a second agreement, the revised Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.The second viable agreement was signed on January 27, 2020, in Belfast. Michel Barnier, the European negotiator, summarized it as follows: "The solution we have agreed allows Northern Ireland to remain part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom while enjoying the benefits of the single market. The
challenge was to create a border that respected the sensitivities of both states, business, taxes, separating goods and uniting people. What a challenge! Will it be enough to continue the reconciliation, or even to lead to the reunion of Ireland? Everyone in Ireland must take stock, and forge a common future. The Republic of Ireland must prove that it can take care of all its people. Its modernization, its flourishing economy, is winning the approval of young people in Ireland from north to south who want to live together in peace. The example of the reunification of Germany teaches us the primacy of economic performance: to encourage and guarantee the success, in fact, of this idealized transformation. The preparation politically, sociologically, without ideology, without rancor, without haste. Could the Brexit thwart the success of this mutation?
Hard won, it is necessary to consolidate its European status
The Republic of Ireland, its government, its people, remain committed to the European Union. All, or almost all, appreciate and are truly and deeply European
At the creation of the Common Market, the difficulties and doubts of welcoming Ireland into this Europe of 1957 were mainly due to its status as a young nation, barely liberated from Great Britain, and to its economy.
Ireland gained independence in 1922 and Northern Ireland left the new Free State as soon as it was created. The Republican Constitution of Ireland was adopted in 1937, but it was not until 1949 that Ireland officially declared itself a republic. France remained against membership for a long time, finding the island too fragile and still too close to Great Britain. This was a trap, because it forced Ireland to remain close to Great Britain, which was reluctant to take the plunge. All Irish governments regularly signalled their desire to join the Common Market. Britain had no European impetus, but it was bound to recognize that this large common market was an economic asset. At the first sign that Britain felt an interest in joining the EU, Ireland continued its seduction operation. General de Gaulle, though proud of his Irish ancestry (MacCartan of County Donw), was not moved by anything. It was not until 1973 that the Republic of Ireland joined Europe.
Ireland, like all the members that joined the EU, benefited from economic aid that it used ingeniously. Focusing on education and employment, Europe was a real springboard for Ireland. Since then, it has become number two, behind Luxembourg. Despite the crises, Ireland has paid back European loans and has been a net contributor since 2014. In 2022, Ireland is starting to return to better economic health after the 2008 crisis. The Brexit has opened up new markets allowing the island to take over direct European market share from Britain: transport, wine, fruit, continental European trade, expanding opportunities for its agricultural market. Taxes on British products make Ireland more competitive
Ireland's globalized economy is also heavily dependent on investment by U.S. multinationals: 700 U.S. companies have investments in Ireland, employing almost 150,000 people, which in 2017 brought in 4.25 billion euros to the Irish Treasury. Ireland is indeed in the U.S. Playing on the words of Mary Harney's speech, then Minister for Enterprise in July 2001: one may wonder in view of the figures of the Irish economy. What would be the answer to the question: is Ireland closer to Boston or Berlin? Boston reminds us of John Kennedy, the first American Catholic President of Irish origin.
Ireland, land of welcome, myth or reality?
If Irish friendliness is legendary - so much so that the tourist office made it its slogan: "You came for Ireland, you'll come back for the Irish" - what about the integration of migrants?
The relative health of the Irish economy and its notable friendliness have made Ireland a very popular destination for immigrants over the past decade. Ireland has developed an immigration system designed to make it easy for highly skilled immigrants to work. What about others?
Often, following disasters, wars, the Irish are generous and welcoming. Integration problems can occur in the long run. Housing shortage is a problem in Ireland. Real estate is expensive and housing is becoming more and more difficult. In the past, it was possible to find pleasant shared apartments in beautiful Victorian mansions in the city center. These are becoming increasingly rare as landlords succumb to the temptation of tourist gain and short-term rentals. Airbnb Ireland is growing at a rate of 200% annually. Will the generosity of the emergency long hide the difficulty of integration for all in the long term?
The emerald island always greener and more tech
The history of its people, its small size and the youth of its population also give it great opportunities to test change. Ireland has more than once initiated strong measures that have been described as impossible to implement
At least but not least, Ireland's future must be technological and green! Ireland has launched a very ambitious program of energy independence and green investment.
The Government of the Republic of Ireland has passed a Climate Action Plan which commits Ireland to a legally binding target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and a 51% reduction by 2030. These targets are a key pillar of the government's program. Ireland wants to become an energy independent pioneer and a model for the environment. These programs will create many jobs in the green and energy sectors.
Ireland, in the Atlantic, can achieve this if, as it has decided, it finances and offers to all the sectors concerned the means of research and transformation: offshore wind, onshore wind, there is no lack of wind in Ireland. It is around fresh or sea water that the solutions are found. Ireland has one of the largest hydroelectric power resources on the planet. It has a reserve of over 12.5 gigawatts of wave energy capacity off the Irish coast, which is more than twice the peak electricity demand. Tidal and osmotic power plants can also be created from the sea. At the beginning of the 21st century, Ireland is able to contain unemployment and keep its youth in the country, thanks to the quality of its universities and numerous research and development centers. The government takes care to impose the establishment of R&D centers on companies that come to take advantage of the advantageous installation conditions: English-speaking population, trained and professionally competent population, known and stable taxes over time, which reassures investors and creates confidence in the future. It is less interesting economically to see production lines set up too often, too quickly competing and too easily relocated to countries with lower labor costs.
The Irish seem confident. To the question: "Are climate change policies good news for the economy?", 53% say that the ecological transition will be a source of economic growth. 59% of Irish people think that the impact on the level of employment will be positive. However, 72% think that their purchasing power will decrease with the ecological transition...
So do we believe? In Ireland, tech is green and it's great!
