Ireland
The Republic of Ireland exhibits high performance across all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework. It is amongst the top 25 per cent in the world in terms of its performance in all but two factors, Electoral Participation (mid-range) and Inclusive Suffrage (high range). Over the past five years, performance has been stable, with no significant advances or declines. Ireland has a highly developed knowledge economy, and remains among Europe’s top locations for foreign direct investment. Its highly redistributive tax and transfer system is credited for the country’s historically low income inequality (although this is changing) and strong economic growth.
Irish politics are marked by its division from Northern Ireland, with which the country shares an open border under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Ireland is a member of the European Union (EU) and a founding member of the Council of Europe and the OECD. Although Irish politics was long dominated by centrist and centre-right parties, there is now movement towards the centre-left and an emerging left-right divide. This shift is particularly influenced by rising economic inequalities due to higher costs of living and wage stagnation. As wage inequality increases, social mobility also becomes less accessible, which, in turn, leads to more fractious politics. Moreover, Irish policymakers have mostly relied on cash benefits instead of services. This has resulted in substantive challenges in healthcare and housing. Access to abortion also remains a concern in the Catholic majority country. Despite the decriminalisation in 2018, the lack of commissioned abortion services prompted a review and sweeping reforms of the Termination of Pregnancy Act. In recent years, Irish politics have also started to address the Irish pension system, which remains under pressure due to ageing demographics, lack of auto-enrolment, and a high number of private sector workers with no supplementary pension savings.
Ireland is home to a small number of racial minorities, including Asian, Black and other communities. Recent studies and reports reveal that racism is an enduring problem, and that minorities face obstacles in accessing workplaces, services, housing, education and healthcare. The government has acknowledged the problem, launching a national action plan against racism. GSoD Indices show that Ireland has made steady progress (from mid to high) on gender equality over the last several decades. Equality in health, access to financial resources and work are stronger areas, while challenges remain in decision-making in political, economic, and social spheres. The recently enacted Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 as well as efforts to push forward the Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill are promising developments.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch patterns of declining trust in the government, due partly to promised state support programmes not being implemented and a series of scandals that prompted resignations. It will also be critical to watch the unclear situation with Northern Ireland and the decreased trust between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Due to the shift of politics in Northern Ireland, discussions on a referendum on the unity of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have started. Nonetheless, a failure of finding mutually agreeable solutions would have major consequences for the Republic.
Monthly Event Reports
March 2024 | Irish voters reject constitutional changes
Ireland held two referendums on 8 March, one to change the family amendment and one to change the care amendment in the constitution. Proponents of these amendments, including all parliamentary parties except the social conservative Aontú, argued that the wording in the constitution is outdated. The proposed revisions aimed to broaden the definition of family to encompass "marriage and other enduring relationships" instead of solely marriage, and to eliminate a mention of a mother's "duties in the home" from the care amendment. The voter turnout was 44.4 per cent and the referendums were both rejected by an overwhelming majority, with 67.7 per cent voting no to the family referendum and 73.9 per cent voting no to the care referendum. The changes were criticized for being too vague. Shortly after the referendum, on 20 March, the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar resigned, citing personal and political reasons. He was succeeded by party colleague Simon Harris.
January 2024 | Hostilities against asylum seekers increase
More than 750 asylum seekers in Ireland have been forced to sleep on the streets due to a shortage of accommodation, while establishments intending to house them have encountered threats, protests, and arson attacks. The increasing hostilities have intensified over the past year, fueled by the conflict in Ukraine, which has prompted an influx of asylum seekers to Ireland, combined by an ongoing housing crisis. The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) cautioned that the country is nearing a critical juncture in its treatment of asylum seekers. In 2023, there were 15 arson attacks directed at facilities designated for asylum seekers. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed grave concern over these attacks, pledging arrests and stressing the imperative to address the situation.
May 2023 | EU Commissioner raises concerns over asylum-seekers’ treatment and homelessness
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, sent a letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien regarding homelessness among asylum-seekers, requesting a “whole of government approach.” The Commissioner stated the country may not be complying with minimum requirements set under the European Convention on Human Rights, raised the issue of unequal treatment between Ukrainian and other asylum-seekers, and warned that the housing crisis could fuel growing anti-refugee sentiment. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded that there has been continued work to address the issue but admitted that the existing conditions “fall short of what is required.” Recently, there have been increased reports of asylum-seekers’ substandard living conditions and years of limbo due to the long waiting times for application decisions. The country has seen arson attacks on asylum-seekers and blocked roads to prevent them from accessing accommodation centers.
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GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022
Basic Information
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Global State of Democracy Indices
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Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
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