What are Ireland's views on certain issues?

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froggequene

Homosexuality is tolerated but obviously there are people who don't care for it & if you live in a small town it might be more difficult.

Abortion is banned except where it endangers the mother but counselling & information is available, technically women can be prosecuted for procuring an abortion outside the state but I've never heard of it happening.

No, Protestants are not persecuted in the Republic of Ireland

The only carpenter I know is trying to find work in the UK at the moment, the Republic is in recession & construction has been badly hit.

There are elements of socialism in both the UK & the Republic of Ireland - the Welfare State is not yet dead, we have a universal healthcare system, free schooling & a benefits system funded by social insurance contributions. Irish politics are still quite conservative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_state

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/irish-social-welfare-system/social-insurance-prsi/social_insurance_in_ireland

The President is elected by the people, it's largely a ceremonial position, there are some powers attached to the office but and SHE gets seven years in office, with a maximum of two terms. Our current President is female, Mary McAleese and her predecessor was also female.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Ireland

The leader of the government is the Prime Minister (Taoiseach) and is usually the leader of the party which garners the most votes - one of the President's roles is to appoint the Taoiseach.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoiseach

We use the proportional representation method of voting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation

Home schooling is allowed, it's even set down in law but it's generally not encouraged. Parents are obliged to educate their children under Irish law, how they do it is up to them as long as the child is educated while it's of compulsory school age.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/education/the-irish-education-system/constitution_and_education

EDIT: your post doesn't make you sound like a homosexual or that you're gay - there are plenty of students of sociology & anthropology who would ask the same question, you asked what I would consider to be a fairly innocuous question

Rory M

1. We are fairly tolerant about homosexuality as far as I know.

2. Abortion is illegal unless it endangers the mother (or you could just go abroad)

3. No.

4. At the moment there isn't that much call for workers in the building trade.

5. Americans really are afraid of Socialism aren't they. From an American point of view we are fiscally Socialist, even our more conservative elements are Liberal for the most part.

6. Our Prime minister (so to speak) is elected by the Government ministers.

nurseratchet

Rory answered your question to perfection. You won't get a better answer than his so I'm not going to even try.

However..

You could try asking your question to us Irish, rather than what are "their" views etc.. rather condescending unless you want people other than Irish people to answer?

I found your question very patronising, to be honest, I'm sure you didn't mean it but;

1 "How is the "President" (or whatever they call him) elected? How does that process work? How many years is he in office?"

2 "or whatever they call him"??

Our President is not a him..She a woman and her name is Mary McAleese.

We do not persucute protestants. (I am a catholic, my partner is protestant so no I don't persecute him :-) )

Yes abortion is illegal. I believe it should be made legal in certain circumstances, not as a form of birth control though.

I have a really good friend who is gay and yes he has experienced a s*!^ load of negativity but also lots of positive reactions from his friends -- like in all Countries I guess.

Socialism - no Ireland is not a socialist Country - have you not heard about the the recent FAS scandal!

Home educated is not advisable in my own personal opinion as the child misses out on the social contact that contributes to their growth and maturity.

Flying mop dog

We haven't legalised gay marriage but we generally accept the gay community and don't have any problems with them.

Abortions are illegal but this has always been a controversial topic.

Homeschooling is not popular. I for one think that education is as much about developing social skills as it is about learning academic subjects.

I am a Protestant in the Republic and I have gotten a slagging from time to time but the people who slag me for it soon find themselves in big trouble as outcasts. No there is no persecution.

Difficult at the moment.

That depends on your view of socialism. The Irish have a very different idea of what is socialist when you compare it with the American beliefs. Americans would probably consider us socialist but we would most certainly say not.

The President isn't the leader of the country, it is simply a figurehead position. The last 2 have both been women and the term is 7 years.The government leader is the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) who is the leader of which ever party is the main government party after a general election which operates on the PR STV system.

lncrcrn

just like america,homosexuality here, there are different point's of view, and can be extreme on both sides, but just like america, the majority are not bothered by it one way or another. the ban on abortion is written into our Constitution, but many travel to the uk to have it done. and just like in america, many belive it is wrong while others belive it should be allowed. home schooling is not allowed in ireland unless it is provided by an qualified person, the state provide free education at every level and provide primary and secondary education in even the remotest part's of the country so it can see no reason for home schooling.
as for the prodtestant part, no we don't, but can not speak for everyone on that, the hurt of the last 800 years is deeply rooted in our society, but we know we cannot blame people today for the wrongs of the past, at least most of us know that. like america, now is a bad time to be setting up or operating a business in ireland, but up untill last year trades people were making a fortune here, alot of them ripping people off, which they are paying for know, as the building industry dries up, people know what trades men took the piss in the good times and they are going out of business at a frighting pace .... we would describe ourselfs as left of center,( just slighty left) we provide free health care for all, free education at all levels including university, have a generous social welfere payment and the goverment either own or have a large shareholding in the national utility companies and the national airline, and they are talking about buying large amount of shares in the banks here. so would suppose you would descibe us as left of center..... and our president. She holds office for 7 years and just like yours, he or she can serve only two terms, but she hold no real power and only is a figure head, the office was created to replace the role of the queen and her lieutenant governor after our independance...... hope that answers some of your questions

wendylilly

1 the same as most other countries, some think it's ok others don't!
2 yes abortion is banned, a few years ago there was a referendum to change the law but we voted no and it's still illegal.
3 hardly anyone is homeschooled, what's the point?
4 no, the "troubles" are over.
5 trades men make a mint!
6 what's that?
7 She is appointed by something, i'm not sure she's really just a figure head with no political power. The taoiseach is the important one, Brian Cowan. His party won the election and the party chose him as their leader.

hope it helps!

CÃaran

1 Crappy, legally they have no rights to marriage or adoption but socially they are somewhat accepted, personally no probs with them

2 True. But you can go abroad

3 Somewhat frowned on, not encouraged, personally I think it's bad for the kid's social development

4 Not anymore, unless you're one of those Christians that tries to get us to see the 'love of christ'- it will not be appreciated

5 Impossible, all construction workers have moved to Australia and will most likely be there for the next ten years

6 Not so far but it soon might be because of the recession

7 SHE is elected by public vote and one term is seven years, but she's really just a figurehead, the Taoiseach is the one that rules.

Note: for some reason there is predijuce against IrishAmericans in this country, so far the only way to become fully accepted is to learn the Irish language like Des Bishop did, see my profile for an example.
Note: Socialism here and in America is quite different so on reflection my answer might not be accurate, but I don't think Ireland s the country for you

reginaldstower

work & family in ireland
Traditional views have a significant effect on how issues of gender, work and ... It also has a major effect on how certain issues are addressed.

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