Ethnics, Religion, & Politics

Ethnic Make-up

Irish: 84.5%Other White: 9.8%
Asian: 1.9%
Black: 1.4%
Mixed and other: 0.9%
Unspecified: 1.6%

Ireland is the home to many from all around the world. These countries include Dublin, especially, Poland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, and Russia. 

Irish, Norman, English, French, Scottish, Welsh, Ulster- Scots, and other immigrant populations are included in Ireland's various ethnic groups. 

British, Poles, Americans, Lithuanians, Latvians, Germans, Nigerians, Indians, Pakistanis, and Chinese make up the largest immigrant groups, with over 10,000 people. 

Ireland only serious ethnic issue is the racist attacks of discrimination have been reported agaisnt the Jewish immigrants. Ireland's residence do not take to kind to immigrants and often respond through racial attacks. This includes buses, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, etc...

A study noted that 24% of Irish people believed that "People of a different race or colour should live in separate districts." Minorities do not do well in Ireland against the Irish. 

Religions 

Roman Catholic: 84.16%

No Religion: 7.63%

Church of Ireland: 2.81%

Islam:1.07%

Orthodox:0.99%

Presbyterian:0.54%

Methodist:0.15%

**At least 32% of people in Ireland reported to have went to a religious service more than once a week.

Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic, but is also a very multicultural society where they are all embraced and respected as they each play essential roles in the societal make- up of the country. 

Other groups include the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist Churches . This includes centres for Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is and those of the Islamic and Jewish faiths. 

One important religious conflict Ireland is facing today is the conflict in Northern Ireland, which has caused the death of thousands. This battle has religious and political roots that go back for centuries. Today it is the conflict of opposing views of the area's status. Some believe, mainly the Protestant Unionist community, it should remain part of the United Kingdom. Other, mainly the Catholic Nationalist Community, believes it should leave the UK and become part of the Republic of Ireland.

Politics 

Ireland is mostly democracy. The head of the Government is the Taoiseach, the Deputy Prime Minister. There are 15 different Government departments. The Taoiseach and Ministers collectively form the Government under the Irish constitution, where they hold executive power. 

• Parliament= Oireachtas
• Two houses of Parliament= Dail Eireann (house of Reps), With 166 members(TD), who are elected using proportional representations with a single transferable vote
• Seanad Eireann(Senate), with 60 members , eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach and the rest are elected from vocational panels and by national universities. 
• President= Michael D Higgins, elected for seven years and can serve no more than two terms