Social & Economic Aspects of Ireland

This module is designed to inform and enhance the socio-cultural understanding of Ireland by international learners, and to enable them to use standard economic tools to explore and evaluate fundamental aspects of the Irish economy. On successful completion of this module learners will be able to:

1. Discuss the socio-cultural, political and economic dimensions of contemporary Ireland, identifying similarities and contrasts with the learner's country of origin
2. Identify the main civilisations, influences and events which have shaped society, politics and the economy of contemporary Ireland
3. Recognize the complexities of the origins of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the progress made since the 1990?s.
4. Summarise the use of standard tools used by economists to analyse aspects of a national economy, and state their applicability to aspects of the Irish economy.
5. Discuss the causes and consequences of Ireland's rise to economic prominence as the 'Celtic Tiger' economy and its subsequent crash.
6. Communicate the key contemporary issues and options in relation to Irish social and economic policy.