government: parliamentary republic
state of civil and political rights: Free
constitution: adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937; amended many times, last in 2019
legal system: common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
legislative system: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of the Senate (Seanad Eireann) and the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann)
judicial system: Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members - the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal - and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law); High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts
religion: Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%, Muslim 1.3%, other 2.4%, none 9.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2016 est.)
death row:
year of last executions: 0-0-0
death sentences: 0
executions: 0
international treaties on human rights and the death penalty:International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (signed only)
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (made reservation to Art.28 and, therefore, does not recognize the competence of the Committee Against Torture (CAT) to examine information concerning the practice of torture in the country)
situation:
