Section1.Ireland

** 1.History/Background of E.U. Country **


 * [[image:North_Ireland.jpg width="386" height="236"]] || The Celts arrived during the 4th century. St. Patrick came to Ireland in 432 A.D and he brought Christianity to Ireland. In 795 A.D Vikings invaded the Celts, but in they defeated the Vikings in 1014. In 1600s the English ruled Ireland. In 1840 Ireland suffered from a "Great Potato Famine" and 1 million people died and 2 million migrated to different countries. In 1937 Ireland became a free country, but had to lose control of Northern Ireland to the English. The primary language is irish and their second language is british. 88% of their pop. is Roman Catholic. The years during the 1990s were called the "Irish miracle" because goverment support for education has increased and they obtained new high tech. to help support the economy and it turned Ireland from a poor country to one of the most affuent countries in Europe. ||


 * 2. Year of Admission to E.U. History and General Information about the E.U.**
 * [[image:irish_flag.gif width="293" height="239"]] || Ireland joined the E.U in 1973. The E.U was formed to unite countries that had been torn apart by wars. They started off as the common market for steel and coal products in 1952. By 1958 the six countries of the common market, made the Eourpean Economic Community, which removed tariffs from all the goods. In 1993, twelve countries of the common market created the E.U. The E.U was created so people could have jobs, protect citizen's rights, and preserve the enviroment. The E.U.'s main goals are to encourage peace, prosperity, and have a well economy. It helps promote freedom, security, and justice. In 2004 the E.U. had 25 members across Europe. They created the Euro because it would be easier to travel from country to country without exchanging currency. ||

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 * 3. How does the E.U. and your country feel about global temperatures/climate change? (//environmental issue)// **
 * [[image:mountain.jpg width="361" height="264"]] || The European Union is working on a activity to make a global agreement to try to control the climate change. They hace been taking steps by reducing greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s.The temperature is rising and it needs to be controlled. The island's greens will turn brown. Ireland's soft rains will become strong downpours, and could lead to erosion. Bog bursts, they are great slabs of peat and careen down a slope, like a mudslide, will occur more often. Potatos could be a threatened again. Ireland's waterways will dry up and most salmon and trout who live there will be gone and the tourism depneds on the rivers. The Irish are concerned about climate change and global warming.

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 * 4. How does the E.U. and your country feel about supporting the war in Afghanistan? //(political issue)// **
 * [[image:church.jpg width="375" height="247"]] || The E.U. and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are both commited to create a secure, stable, free, prosperous, and democratic Afghanistan. The E.U. is also one of Afghanistans largest donors. The Afganistan compact launched at the london conference in January 2006, provides the political framework for cooperation between Afghanistan and the International community for the five year period going on now. Ireland was one of the five countries that decided to commision a joint evaluation of the aid provided. Ireland allocated overseas development assistance of the euro 791 million to afghanistan from 2001 to mid 2004.That was 25% of the whole international aid to Afghanistan over this period.

Ireland has a small economy, but is growing quickly. They rely on trade, especialy with nations of the E.U. In 2002, the Euro replaced the Punt. Tourism is a large and growing part of teh economy. In 2005, Ireland's unemployment rate was just over 4%, the lowest in teh E.U. Ireland entered into a recession in 2008. Ireland's economy depended on agriculture, but indestry and services now are leading. By 2008, services, primarily buisness, computer, and financial accounted for 42% of the total exports. When Ireland's economy finaly had stopped at a good spot, it then slowed down and the economy started to slide down. I think Ireland could help support the weaker economies, but they have economic issues as well. I believe they should focus on their own economy more but try to help others.  media type="file" key="Joey 3.wav" Click on the link to hear our view! ||
 * 5. What is the economic background of your country and how does your country feel about supporting the economies of weaker countries in the E.U? //(economic issue)// **
 * [[image:Dublin.jpg width="317" height="387"]] || 