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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Michael COLLINS
Embassy: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: (202) 232-5993

Consulate(s) General are in:
San Francisco
44 Montgomery St., Suite 3830,
San Francisco, CA 94104.
(415) 392-4214

Chicago
400 N. Michigan Av.,
Chicago, IL 60611.
(312) 337-1868

Boston
535 Boylston St.,
Boston, MA 02116.
(617) 267-9330

New York
345 Park Av., 17 Floor,
New York, NY 10154.
(212) 319-2552

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Daniel M. Rooney
Embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Mailing Address: use embassy street address
Telephone: [353] 1 668-7122
Fax: [353] 1 6689946

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Ireland
U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland
Embassy of Ireland in Washington, United States of America


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-IRELAND RELATIONS

U.S. relations with Ireland have long been based on common ancestral ties and shared values, and emigration has been a foundation of the U.S.-Irish relationship. Besides regular dialogue on political and economic issues, the U.S. and Irish Governments have official exchanges in areas such as medical research and education. With Ireland's membership in the European Union (EU), discussions of EU trade and economic policies as well as other aspects of EU policy have also become key elements in the U.S.-Irish relationship.

Irish citizens have continued a common practice of taking temporary residence overseas for work or study, mainly in Australia, the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and elsewhere in Europe. Along with an increased interest in long-term emigration, there has been a surge of interest in “mid-term” emigration for 3-5 years, which has been mirrored in Irish Government interest in a specialized extended-stay visa for mid-career professionals to live/work in the U.S. The U.S. J-1 visa program is popular means for Irish youths to work temporarily in the United States; a bilateral program expansion in 2008 that provides further opportunities for recent graduates to spend up to 1 year in the United States has been undersubscribed. A high priority of the Irish Government is the need to find a legal remedy for those Irish living out of status in the United States.

Regarding Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, "Nationalist" and "Republican" groups seek a united Ireland that includes Northern Ireland, while "Unionists" and "Loyalists" want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. U.S. priorities continue to be supporting the peace process and devolved political institutions in Northern Ireland and encouraging the implementation of the U.S.-brokered 1998 Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, and the 2006 St. Andrews Agreement.

U.S. Assistance to Ireland

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), created in 1986, provides funding for projects to generate cross-community engagement and economic opportunity in Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom) and the border counties of Ireland. Since the IFI's establishment, the U.S. Government has contributed over $500 million, roughly half of total IFI funding. The other major donor to IFI is the European Union.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Economic and trade ties are an important facet of overall U.S.-Irish relations. U.S. exports to Ireland include electrical components and equipment, computers and peripherals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and livestock feed. Irish exports to the United States include alcoholic beverages, chemicals and related products, electronic data processing equipment, electrical machinery, textiles and clothing, and glassware. U.S. firms year after year account for over half of Ireland's total exports.

U.S. investment has been particularly important to the growth and modernization of Irish industry over the past 25 years, providing new technology, export capabilities, and employment opportunities. There are approximately 600 U.S. subsidiaries in Ireland that employ roughly 100,000 people and span activities from manufacturing of high-tech electronics, computer products, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals to retailing, banking, finance, and other services. In more recent years, Ireland has also become an important research and development center for U.S. firms in Europe.

Ireland's Membership in International Organizations

Ireland and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Ireland is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Ireland is Daniel M. Rooney; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Ireland maintains an embassy in the United States at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-462-3939). Ireland also maintains consulates general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.

More information about Ireland is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Ireland Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Ireland Page
U.S. Embassy: Ireland
USAID Ireland/Northern Ireland (U.K.) Page
History of U.S. Relations With Ireland
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Investment Climate Statements
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Ireland check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (EUR) Euro
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 353, City Code Dublin 1, Cork 21, Dundalk 42, Wexford 53



Time: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use.

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 353 followed by the area code, omitting the initial zero. Outgoing international code: 00.

Climate: The temperate climate is due to mild southwesterly winds and the Gulf Stream. Summers are warm, while temperatures during winter are much cooler. Spring and autumn are very mild. Rain falls all year.

Required clothing: Lightweights during summer with warmer mediumweights for the winter. Rainwear is advisable throughout the year.

Food & Drink: Ireland is a farming country noted for its meat, bacon, poultry and dairy produce. The surrounding sea, inland lakes and rivers offer fresh fish including salmon, trout, lobster, Dublin Bay prawns, oysters (served with Guinness and wholemeal bread), mussels and periwinkles. Dublin has a wide selection of restaurants and eating places to suit every pocket, as do the other major towns. Table and self service are both common. The most typical Irish dishes will usually be found in a country restaurant, and include corned beef and carrots, boiled bacon and cabbage and Irish stew. Other local delicacies are crubeens (pigs' trotters), colcannon (a mixture of potatoes and cabbage cooked together), soda bread and a soufflé made with carrageen (a variety of seaweed). Visitors should note that ‘tea’ is often almost a full meal with sandwiches and cakes.
Pubs, of which Ireland has plenty, are sometimes called ‘lounges’ or ‘bars’ and there is often a worded sign outside the premises rather than the traditional painted boards found in Britain. Pubs and bars have counter service. The measure used in Ireland for spirits is larger than that used in Britain, for example an Irish double is equal to a triple in Britain. Irish coffee is popular (glass of strong black coffee, brown sugar and whiskey with cream). Almost any drink is imported but the two most internationally distinctive products are whiskey (spelt with an ‘e’) and stout. Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, is found everywhere and Murphy’s is almost as widely available. One of the most popular of lighter ales is Smithwick’s or Harp Lager, also available everywhere. Irish whiskey has a uniquely characteristic flavour and is matured in a wooden barrel for a minimum of 7 years. Amongst the most popular brands are Jamesons and John Powers Gold Label, but others include Paddy, Tullamore Dew, Old Bushmills, Midleton, Reserve and Hewitts. Certainly as popular as whiskey is stout which is bottled or served from the tap. Liqueurs such as Irish Mist and Bailey’s are both made from a base of Irish whiskey. Licensing hours: Mon-Wed 1030-2330, Thurs-Sat 1030-0030 and Sun 1030-2300. Legal drinking age: 18, although some bars will insist that patrons are over 21 and carry ID.

Tipping: The customary tip in Ireland is 10 to 12 per cent. Many hotels and restaurants add this in the form of a service charge indicated on the menu or bill. It is not customary to tip in bars unless you have table service when a small tip is advised. Tipping porters, taxi drivers, hairdressers, etc is customary but not obligatory.

Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Ireland). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Irish Punt was completely replaced by the Euro on 9 February 2002. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are all widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards. Check with your credit and debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted throughout Ireland. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Currency...No restrictions

Cameras....No restrictions

Film.......Reasonable for personal use

Agriculture items...Refer psgr to consulate

Gifts......Duty free allowance 20 irish pounds

Goods obtained duty- and/or tax free in the eu, or duty- and tax free on a ship or aircraft, or goods obtained outside the eu:


Tobacco....200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco

Liquor.....1 litre of spirits (more than 22% proof) or 2 litres of other alcoholic beverages, including sparkling wine or fortified wine, plus 2 litres of table wine

Perfume....50 grams of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette

Goods.....Up to a value of ir£142 (ir£73 if under 15 years of age)

Goods obtained tax and duty paid in the eu:


Tobacco....800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1000 grams of tobacco
Liquor.....10 litre of spirits (more than 22% proof) plus 2 litres of other alcoholic beveragesunder 22% proof (eg. Fortified wine) , up to 25 litres of wine and 50 litres of beer

Note: Other there are no legal limits imposed on importing duty-paid tobacco and alcoholic product from one eu country to another, travellers must be questioned at customs if they exceed the above amounts and may be asked to prove that the good are for personal use only.



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