The Celtic island in liberal and globalized mode
Ireland today is a truly liberal country at its best, but also at its most perfectible. Ireland is a stable democracy based on the separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers, in which political rights and civil liberties are respected and defended; elections are free and contested between several political formations. Its political organization is a parliamentary democracy. Political power derives from the people and their representatives, the members of parliament. The President is elected by the Irish people for a 7-year term, with a maximum of two terms. The candidate who wins the election becomes President of Ireland(Uachtarán na hÉireann) by publicly taking the oath set out in the Bunreacht na hÉireann. Power lies with Parliament, which passes the law. The President exercises sub-parliamentary power. Most of the President's decisions and initiatives are subject to government assent. He is head of the armed forces. He is often an intellectual, an academic or a member of civil society, embodying Irish values. He sometimes stirs spirits, spurs people on. He gives meaning, direction, unites all Irish people, embodies the Irish nation. He is also the face of Ireland, its constancy, its changes and its mutations. Twice, the President has been a woman: Mary Robinson (1990-1997) and Mary McAleese (1997-2011). Mary Robinson won a spectacular 93% support and approval rating for her policies, unheard of in other democracies. She brought about major societal transformations. Mary Robinson, a lawyer, was instrumental in decriminalizing homosexuality, legalizing contraception, legalizing divorce, enabling women to sit 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, the democratization of the exercise of power, the environment and development aid or economic development. Mary McAleese was the first President of the Republic to be born in Northern Ireland. Currently, Michael Daniel Higgins, former Labour boss and former Minister for Culture, will complete his 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 historic parties, as in the rest of Europe?
The border, the Gordian knot of the Brexit
Brexit, Britain's exit from Europe, could 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 major economic stakes. Joining it means enjoying advantages, but in return means respecting rules to benefit from the free movement of people and goods.
Once again, the difficulty arises from the need to establish a border between Europe and Great Britain. France is familiar with the Calais situation. Choosing where to put Europe's border means - despite all the good will that's been put into action - taking sides with one side 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 present valid travel permits. The negotiators came up with a special agreement for Ireland's particular situation, 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, summed it up as follows: "The solution we have agreed allows Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom's customs territory while enjoying the benefits of the single market. It's a viable system, designed to last."
The challenge was to install a border that respected the sensitivities of both states, business and taxes, separating goods and uniting people. Quite a challenge! Will it be enough to pursue reconciliation, or even lead to the reunification 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 and flourishing economy are winning the support of young people across the island, from north to south, who aspire to live together in peace. The example of German reunification teaches us the primacy of economic performance: encouraging and guaranteeing the success, in practice, of this idealized transformation. We are preparing for this politically and sociologically, without ideology, without rancor, without haste. Could the Brexit upset the success of this mutation?
Hard won, it is necessary to consolidate its European status
The Republic of Ireland, its government and its people remain committed to the European Union. Almost all of them feel truly and deeply European.
When the Common Market was created, the difficulties and doubts about welcoming Ireland into the Europe of 1957 were mainly due to its status as a young nation, just freed 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. Ireland's republican constitution was adopted in 1937, but it was not until 1949 that Ireland officially declared itself a republic. For a long time, France opposed membership, finding the island too fragile and still too close to Great Britain. This situation was a trap, as it forced Ireland to remain close to Great Britain, which was reluctant to take the plunge. All Irish governments regularly expressed their desire to join the Common Market. Great Britain had no European impetus, but was bound to recognize that this large common market was an economic asset. At the first sign that Britain was interested in joining the E.U., Ireland continued its seduction operation. General de Gaulle, though proud of his Irish ancestry (MacCartan of County Donw), was not moved. It wasn't until 1973 that the Republic of Ireland joined Europe.
Like all EU members, Ireland has benefited from economic aid, which it has used ingeniously, focusing on education and employment. For Ireland, Europe has been a real springboard. Despite the crises, Ireland has repaid 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, enabling the island to take over direct European market shares from Great Britain: transport, wine and fruit trading from continental Europe, and expanded outlets for its agricultural market. Taxes on British products make Ireland more competitive.
Ireland's globalized economy is also heavily dependent on investment by American multinationals: 700 American companies have investments in Ireland, employing almost 150,000 people, which in 2017 brought in 4.25 billion euros to the Irish Treasury. It almost makes you wonder whether Ireland is closer to Boston (the city of President Kennedy, who was Irish by birth) or Berlin!
Ireland, land of welcome, myth or reality?
If Irish friendliness is legendary - so much so that the tourist board made it its slogan: "You came for Ireland, you'll come back for the Irish" - what about the integration of migrants?
Ireland's relatively healthy economy and notable friendliness have made it a very popular immigration destination over the past decade. Ireland has developed an immigration system designed to make it easy for highly skilled immigrants to work. What about the rest of us?
Often, in the wake of disaster or war, the Irish are generous and welcoming. Integration problems can arise in the long term. Housing shortage is a problem in Ireland. Real estate is expensive and housing is becoming increasingly difficult. In the past, it was possible to find pleasant shared accommodation in beautiful Victorian mansions in the heart of the city. These are now increasingly rare, as landlords succumb to the temptation of tourist gain and short-term rentals. Airbnb Ireland is growing at an annual rate of 200%. Will the generosity of the emergency hide for long 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. On more than one occasion, Ireland has taken the initiative for strong measures that were considered impossible to implement.
Last but not least, Ireland's future must be technological and ecological! Ireland has launched a highly 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 at the latest, and a 51% reduction by 2030. These targets form an essential pillar of the government's programme. Ireland aims to become an energy-independent pioneer and an environmental role model. These programs will create numerous jobs in the ecology and energy sectors.
Ireland, in the Atlantic, can achieve this if, as it has decided, it finances and offers all the sectors concerned the means for research and transformation: offshore wind, onshore wind, there is no shortage of wind in Ireland. Freshwater and seawater are where the solutions lie. Ireland has one of the largest hydroelectric energy resources on the planet. It has the potential to develop over 12.5 gigawatts of wave energy capacity off the Irish coast, which is more than twice the peak electricity demand. The sea can also be used to create tidal and osmotic power plants. At the start of the 21st century, Ireland is able to contain its unemployment rate and keep its young people at home, thanks to the quality of its universities and numerous research and development centers. The government takes great care to ensure that companies setting up R&D centers are able to take advantage of the country's favourable location conditions: an English-speaking, well-trained and professionally-skilled population; taxes and duties that are known and stable over time, reassuring investors and creating confidence in the future. It is less attractive economically to set up production lines, which are often too quick to compete and too easy to relocate 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 employment levels will be positive. However, 72% believe that their purchasing power will decrease as a result of the ecological transition...
So, do we believe it? In Ireland, tech is green and it's great!
