Ireland - EAPM

Ireland

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD Ireland)

Other information

Chair (non executive):	Frank Kelly
Director:	Michael McDonnell, E-mail: michaeleapmdotmcdonnelleapmatcipdeapmdotie
Date Association Founded:	1937
National Employers' Association:	Irish Business Employers Confederation, Tel: +353 1 660 1011, Fax: +353 1 660 1717
National Unions' Association:	ICTU, 19 Raglan Road, Dublin
Government Employment Office:	Department of Enterprise and Employment, Tel: +353 1 661 4444
Total Number Of Members:	6,400
Membership Categories:	Individual
Number of Regional Branches:	6
Title of Primary Publication and Frequency of Issue:	People focus, 4 times a year
Details of Professional Education Schemes:	The Irish Educational Scheme is linked directly to the UK professional qualification scheme leading to Graduate stage.
Other Activities:	National Training Conference held annually in October, 15-20 courses annually and national and regional programme of events - 50 annually Irish Information and Advisory Service, CIPD (I) Graduate Placement Programme
Annual National Conference Dates:	2010:tbc

Country Profile 2004

Ireland has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The rate of growth over the past 5 years has averaged almost 7.5% and the forecast for 2004 is that GDP will grow by 3.25%.
The rate of inflation in consumer prices in the first quarter of 2004 was 2.3%
Government revenue flows have continued to be very strong despite the world economic downturn. There is strong evidence in the first half of 2004 that the economy is again picking up, ahead of world trends.
The currency of Ireland is the Euro.

The Irish Head of State is the President, elected by direct vote of the people every seven years. While the President does not have any executive powers, he or she is effectively the guardian of the Constitution. ( Ireland is a Republic with a written Constitution). The current President is Mary McAleese.
The Irish Government is elected by Dail Eireann (the Irish Parliament) following a general election which must take place at least every five years.
The government is headed by An Taoiseach (Prime Minister). The current Taoiseach is Bertie Ahern. The Government is currently a centre right coalition of Fianna Fail, the largest party in Dail Eireann, and the Progressive Democrats.
The major political issues are improvement in the delivery of public services, particularly health and education.

The population of the Republic of Ireland is almost 4 million.
The labour participation rate is 60% and the unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2004 was 4.4%.
The rate of pay increase has been determined by non-binding social partnership agreements involving government, employers and trade unions for over a decade. The latest proposed renewal of the national pay agreement is due for ratification by the social partners in August 2004 and provides for a total pay increase of 5.5% over an 18 month period.
The principal labour shortages are in the services (including health) industries

HR issues are primarily driven by the relatively low unemployment rate and competition for talent, such as reward and retention policies.
There are also issues around the need to adapt and change quickly enough to maintain global competitiveness

Income Tax rates for a single person are 20% on taxable income up to Eur28,000 per annum and 42% on the remainder.
Employees generally pay a social insurance contributionof 6% of earnings and employers pay 10.75% on earnings up to Eur42,160 and 2% on the remainder.
The standard rate of VAT is 21% with a lower rate of 13.5% on certain services. Education and training services are VAT free.