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Ireland's Eye – A roundup of top Irish news stories

A look at news from around Ireland FULL STORY >

Today's Irish news roundup

Check out what Irish news stories are getting IrishCentral readers' attention today FULL STORY >

Finalists go head-to-head in 2013 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards

The eight finalists in the 2013 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Awards, have been. The Awards celebrate and support Ireland’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs with game changing ideas to solve the social problems facing Ireland. FULL STORY >

North’s Minister for Finance accuses Republic of ‘stealing’ UK tax revenue

Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister has sparked a cross border war of warns after claiming the Republic ‘steals’ UK revenue via American corporations like Google and Apple. FULL STORY >

JFK50 Emigrant Flame ceremony to take place at Arlington Cemetery before journey to Ireland

An historic moment in Irish American history will take place today, at the graveside of President John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, when a flame will be taken from the Eternal Flame to be transported to Ireland, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his memorable visit to Ireland in June 1963. FULL STORY >

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The Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary representative democratic republic. While there are a number of important political parties in the state, Irish politics is dominated by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, historically opposed and competing entities, though both occupy the traditional center ground. The state is a member of the European Union. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Oireachtas, the bicameral national parliament, which consists of Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Irish Constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected president, a separation of powers and judicial review. The constitution may only be amended by referendum. Important constitutional referendums have concerned issues such as abortion, the status of the Catholic Church, divorce, and the European Union. The head of state is the President of Ireland. In keeping with the state's parliamentary system of government the President exercises a mainly ceremonial role but does possess certain reserve powers. The presidency is open to all Irish citizens who are at least 35. The President is elected to a seven year term of office and no person may serve more than two terms. Executive authority is exercised by a cabinet known simply as the Government. Article 28 of the Constitution states that the Government may consist of no less than seven and no more than fifteen members, namely the Taoiseach (prime minister), the Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) and up to thirteen other ministers. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President, after being nominated by Dail Eireann (the lower house of parliament). The remaining ministers are nominated by the Taoiseach and appointed by the President following their approval by the Dail. In Irish politics, the Government must enjoy the confidence of Dail Eireann and, in the event that they cease to enjoy the support of the lower house, the Taoiseach must either resign or request the President to dissolve the Dail, in which case a general election follows. A number of political parties are represented in the Dail and coalition governments are common. Neither of the two largest parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, strongly identifies itself as either a left or right-wing group. The third largest party in the world of Irish politics is the center-left Labor Party. Labor is joined on the left by the Green Party and on the far left by Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party.

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