Ireland – participation expected!

Ireland – participation expected!

Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic to the west of Great Britain, separated by the Irish Sea. Ireland encompasses the Republic of Ireland, which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, which covers the remaining area and is located in the northeast of the island. The population is about 6.4 million and the capital is Dublin.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, the country was transformed from a largely agricultural society into a modern, high-technology economy. Then in 2008 the world financial crisis erupted and the Irish economy suffered one of Europe’s deepest recessions. Ireland turned the corner in 2013 and became the first Eurozone nation to leave the bailout scheme.

The country is placed 8th in Europe on the Gender Equality Index and in June 2015 Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin stressed the advances that have been made in Ireland since 2005, particularly in fostering equal access to employment and to financial resources. He observed that: “while we have continued to narrow the gender gap in access to power, achieving gender balance in decision-making remains a major challenge and there is a clear need for more work.”

Drawing on its long folk tradition and international influence, the country has one of Europe’s liveliest music scenes. Along with the famously green landscape, Ireland’s cultural life – and not least its renowned pub atmosphere – is a major tourist draw.

Most business meetings will be relaxed. It is customary to have a period of small talk before the actual meeting which is when a rapport is built to take forward into the meeting. It is quite common to conduct a business meeting in a restaurant or pub, as well as the office. Everyone is expected to participate and they do, often at great length. The Irish like to engage in verbal banter and pride themselves on being able to view a problem from every angle.