Ireland: Introduction

Ireland is an island nation in Western Europe northwest of the United Kingdom. It is strategically located between North America and northern Europe on main air and sea routes. The government system is a republic, a parliamentary democracy. The chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the Taoiseach (prime minister). Ireland has a mixed economic system, which includes a variety of private freedoms combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Ireland is a member of the European Union (EU).