
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>English</title>
		<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71968</link>
		<description></description>
		<language>en</language>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:08:23 UTC</pubDate>
		
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[About the Embassy]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71970</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The Embassy of Ireland inVietnam is open from 8:30am to noon
andnoon to 16:30pm, Monday to Friday


Floor 8, Tower B, Vincom City Towers
191 Ba Trieu Street
Hai Ba Trung District
Hanoi
Vietnam


Tel: +84-4-3974-3291


Fax: +84-4-3974-3295


E-mail the
Embassy of Ireland .


Diplomatic StaffAmbassador - H.E.
Maeve Collins
Deputy Head of Mission- Bob Patterson
Head of Development - Garvan McCann
Development Specialist - Mags Gaynor
PA to Ambassador Collins - Claire coughlan

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:04:40 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Living & Working in Vietnam]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72044</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Visa Requirements


Irish passport holders require a visa to enter Vietnam.Your visa
should be obtained before arrival in Vietnam. This can be done in
two ways:


- You can apply to the Vietnamese Embassy in London which is
accredited to Ireland, contact details below:


Embassy of Vietnam (Visa Section)12-14 Victoria
Road,
London W8 5RD


Tel: 0207 937 1912 – 00-44-


Fax: 0207 937 6108 or 0207 565 3853


Email: consular@vietnamembassy.org.uk


Website: www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/consular.html


- or you can collect your visa on arrival ONLY IF permission to
enter Vietnam has been obtained in advance. The inviter or host in
Vietnam can obtain permission for you to enter Vietnam by sending a
request and information to the Immigration Department of Vietnam.
Once the visa is granted, you can either pick up the visa at the
airport upon arrival or the visa can be entered in your passport at
the nearest Vietnamese Embassy.


Health Care


Clinics


Hanoi


Hanoi Family Medical Practice Suite
109-112,
A1 Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound,
298 I Kim Ma Street,
Ba Dinh District, Hanoi


Tel: +84-4-3843-0748/9
Fax: +84-4-3846-1750


Hanoi French hospital
1 Phuong Mai Street,
Dong Da District, 
Hanoi


Tel: +84-4-3577-1100 (for appointments)
+84-4-3574-1111 (emergency)
Fax: +84-4-3576-5443


International SOS International SOS
Vietnam, Ltd.
51 Xuan Dieu Steeet
Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam


Admin Tel: +84-4-3826-4545
Admin Fax:+84-4-3826-4553



HO CHI MINHCITY


The Ho Chi MinhCity Family Medical
Practice
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, District 1


Tel: +84-8-3822-7848/49
Fax: +84-8-3822-7859





FV Hospital 6 Nguyen Luong Bang
Street, District 7, Ho Chi Minhcity


Tel: +84-8-3411-3333
Fax: +84-8-3411-3334


International SOS
65 Nguyen Du Street


District 1, Ho Chi Minhcity


Tel: +84-8-3829-8424 (clinic)
Tel: +84-8-3829-8520 (emergency)
Fax: +84-8-3829-8551



Registration for Irish Citizen


Please use the 
attached form to register with the Embassy (PDF 32kb) .
Alternatively, you can register
online .


Adoption


For information on adoption in Vietnam, please contact the Adoption
Board at www.adoptionboard.ie.”

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:44:23 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Types of Visa]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72000</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
A comprehensive list of the different visa types that are
available, and the documentation required in respect of each, is
available on the INIS website.


The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the
Department of Foreign Affairs or any Irish Embassy or Consulate may
ask for further documentation at any stage.


For ease of reference, separate links for some of the most common
visa types are set out below.


TRAVELLING TO IRELAND AS A
TOURIST


If you are a Visa-required national and you would like to visit
Ireland for a short period (less than 3 months) you will find
useful guidelines and details of requirements for Visit/Holiday
Visa applications here.


For further information on tourism in Ireland please visit the
website of Tourism Ireland.



TRAVELLING TO IRELAND ON
BUSINESS


Business Meeting
If you are a Visa-required national and coming to Ireland for a
business meeting you will find useful guidelines and details of
requirements for Business Visa applications here


ConferenceIf you are a Visa-required
national and coming to Ireland for a conference you will find
useful guidelines and details of requirements for Conference Visa
applications here


Starting a Business in Ireland
If you are a Non-EEA national and you wish to set up a business in
Ireland, you will require Business Permission from the Department
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. For more information please
click here


STUDYING IN IRELAND


If you require an entry visa for Ireland and would like to study
here, you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements
for Study Visa appplications here.


WORKING IN IRELAND

If you are a national of a country which is not a member of the
European Economic Area (EEA) and you wish to work in Ireland, you
will require authorisation to do so.

For most types of employment, a non-EEA national requires a Work
Permit. For full information on work permits please visit the
website of the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment.

A visa-required national who has been issued with a Work
Permit can apply for an Employment visa through their local
Irish Embassy or Consulate. You will find useful
guidelines and details of requirements for Employment Visa
applications here.


For further information on finding work in Ireland, please visit
the F&#193;S website


WORKING HOLIDAYS

Ireland offers young people from Australia, Canada, Hong
Kong, Japan, 
New Zealand and the Republic of Korea
, the chance to work casually to enable them to
spend an extended holiday in Ireland. For further information
on the Working Holiday schemes, please see the Working Holidays in
Ireland page.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:19:47 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Irish Aid in Vietnam]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72235</link>
					<description><![CDATA[


Introduction


Irish Aid Programme



Fellowship Training Programme



Additional Support



Ireland established an Embassy in Hanoi in 2005. The
Embassy is also accredited to Laos and Cambodia.


Vietnam has undergone rapid economic growth and social change as it
becomes a competitive market economy. The poverty rate – measured
as the percentage of people living below $1 a day – has declined
from 58% in 1993 to 16% in 2006, and 34 million people have been
lifted out of poverty. There has been a continued improvement in
key human development indicators and Vietnam is well positioned to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Global integration
has however also left Vietnam highly vulnerable to global shocks.
As a result of a sudden drop in demand for goods from overseas
markets, especially the US, accompanied by falling levels of
Foreign Direct Investment and remittances, the IMF has listed
Vietnam as one of the most vulnerable countries to the current
global economic crises. Although Vietnam’s economic growth rate has
exceeded 8% in the last two years and it is aiming for middle
income country status by 2010, the impact of the global economic
turndown is likely to see lower growth rates and slower progress
towards middle income country status than anticipated in the coming
years.


However, Vietnam faces significant challenges in ensuring that the
benefits of growth are equitably distributed and in preventing
significant growth in inequality.


The Irish Aid programme is intended to assist Vietnam in addressing
those challenges. A Country Strategy Paper (CSP) setting out Irish
Aid’s development strategy for Vietnam for 2007-2010 provides a
budget of over €87 million. The focus of the Irish Aid work is on
promoting poverty reduction and reducing inequality. It is designed
to support the delivery of basic services and social protection to
the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society; to promote
inclusive economic development and the growth of the private
sector; and to promote equality and increased state accountability
to citizens. Hunger remains a serious issue amongst ethnic
minorities in Vietnam. The P135, VOICE and components of the Civil
Society programmes directly respond to hunger needs in Vietnam,
accounting for more than 50% of the total budget.


Irish Aid Programme – Main Elements


Macroeconomic Support


A core element of the programme involves a continuation of support
to the Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC), a multi-donor
budget support mechanism. It involves support for the pro-poor
elements of the Government’s national development plan. The PRSC is
the main mechanism for donor cooperation and harmonisation.


Programme for Ethnic Minorities
(P135)


Poverty reduction in ethnic minority areas is lagging behind that
of other regions. The “Programme for Socio-economic Development” in
communes faced with extreme difficulties, or Programme 135, is a
poverty reduction programme targeting the poorest communes in
ethnic minority areas. It promotes economic development through
improved local production of food and cash crops.


Private Sector


Ireland is supporting the development of the private sector in the
region. This is channelled mainly through the Mekong Private
Sector Development Facility (MPDF) which provides technical
assistance and advice to small and medium sized private sector
companies, the main engine of job creation in the region, which are
seeking to expand their businesses for export. During 2008, MPDF
has developed its links with Ireland including exchange visits in
the areas of tourism. A visit on business development is proposed
for early 2009.


&quot;IDEAS&quot; Initiative


In response to requests from the Vietnam Government, Irish Aid is
developing an initiative to explore how the lessons of Ireland’s
economic and social development could be delivered as part of Irish
Aid’s programme in South East Asia. Irish Aid has identified a
range of options which are now under consideration, including the
provision of Irish expertise in such areas as enterprise zone
promotion, inward investment, and post-graduate business
fellowships. The Programme is now referred to as the IDEAS
initiative.


We are now calling for applications for Irish Aid IDEAS project
Fellowship. Download more information about the project 
here (Word 31kb) .


Health


Irish Aid, in conjunction with Atlantic Philanthropies, funds the
Ireland-Vietnam Blood-Borne Virus Initiative (IVVI), which provides
support in the area of disease prevention and control in Vietnam.
It involves the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) in UCD,
the main diagnostic laboratory for viral diseases in Ireland, and
the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in Hanoi.
The goal is to enhance public health efforts in Vietnam to reduce
the spread of four blood-borne viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis
B+C, which are most prevalent among the poorest and most
marginalised sectors of society. Two NIHE students have completed
M.Sc. degrees in Clinical and Diagnostic Viroloy at UCD, and two
more are at present pursuing M.Sc degrees in Molecular Virology
with more to follow.


Civil
Society


A Civil Society Fund has been established in Embassy Hanoi to
explore opportunities to further the CSP goals outside mainstream
Government programmes. The Government of Vietnam is more open
than in the past to the involvement of NGOs in the development
process.



CALL FOR CONCEPT NOTES UNDER THE CIVIL SOCIETY FACILITY (PDF
52kb)



VIETNAM CIVIL SOCIETY FACILITY : Pre-Qualification Form A (PDF
208kb)


Vietnam Civil Society Facility (CSF)/Guidelines for Applicant
Organisations(PDF 136kb)



Irish Aid – Civil Society Facility / CONCEPT NOTE (PDF
101kb)




“One UN” reform


In line with its support for UN reform, Ireland is supporting a
pilot programme in Vietnam to streamline the work of the various UN
agencies in the country. In 2008 all fourteen UN agencies in
Vietnam combined their different programmes into a single “One
Plan”, a major milestone in improved delivery of aid to Vietnam.
Irish Aid funding goes to support UN core programmes while at the
same time promoting reform and reducing duplication of mandates and
activities.


Fellowship Training
Programme


Support is provided through a Fellowship Training Programme for
candidates from our developing country partners (i.e. Ethiopia,
Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and
Zambia) to further their education in Ireland or within their own
region in areas relevant to Irish Aid programme objectives. The
programme in Vietnam started in 2007 with the first two candidates
participating in a Master Course Programme 2007-2008 in University
College Dublin (UCD) and in Kimmage DSC followed by one
candidate attending the Master Course Programme 2008-2009 in
University College Dublin.


Fellowships are generally offered in areas which are particularly
relevant to the development of the individual’s home country.
Common areas of study are at postgraduate level (Master’s or
Graduate Diploma) in courses such as Agricultural Sciences,
Education, Public Health and Development Studies.
Undergraduate programmes and Doctoral studies are not funded.


The applicant is normally in employment in his/her home country,
obtains leave from his/her job for the period of study and upon
completion of the study programme s/he would then resume
employment, utilising their qualification to contribute to his/her
country’s development.


A fellowship normally covers: return airfare, course fee, stipend
to cover accommodation and subsistence costs, settling-in allowance
(where appropriate), clothing allowance (where appropriate) and
book allowance.


Applications are closedfor the Annual Irish Aid Fellowship
Trainning Programme (FTP) the dealine of which is end of December
2009.


However, we are now calling for applications for Irish Aid IDEAS
project Fellowship. Download more information about the project

here (Word 31kb) .


Additional Support


Action Aid, VSO Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons and De La Salle
Brothers are active in Vietnam. The United Nations Volunteers
programme enables Irish and non-Irish people to work as UN
Volunteers on one or two-year assignments. Since 2006, funding of
over €1.09m has been provided to these organisations under the
Civil Society programmes.


Emergency support of €100,000 was provided in the aftermath of
Typhoon Lekima in 2007.


Fellowships have been provided for 2 Vietnamese students for the
year 2007/2008. One is currently pursuing a MSc. in
Agriculture in UCD and the other, a MA in Development Studies in
Kimmage Manor.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:26:03 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Travel Advice]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72045</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Vietnam
and ensure that all appropriate vaccines are up-to-date.



Should you require advice or assistance, or in the event of
an emergency, please contact the Irish Embassy in Hanoi on +84 4
3974 3291.



TRAVEL INSURANCE



Providing prompt consular assistance is difficult outside Hanoi and
Ho Chi Minh City because of Vietnam’s poorly developed
infrastructure. The Embassy strongly recommends that
comprehensive travel insurance, including medical insurance, is
obtained before travelling to Vietnam. Travellers should note
that the Irish government does not provide funds for emergency
medical treatment, medical repatriation or for repatriation of
remains.



ENTRY REQUIREMENTS



For entry requirements for Vietnam, please contact the nearest
Vietnamese Embassy for details.



It is advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport
with you as well as spare current passport photos. During
your stay you should carry a photocopy of your passport at all
times.



SAFETY &amp;amp; SECURITY



The incidence of violent crime, in particular against foreigners,
is low in Vietnam and your stay should, hopefully, be without
incident. However, petty street crime can be a problem in the
larger cities and tourist resorts and you should take sensible
precautions. Bag snatchers on motorbikes can also be a problem.
When possible you should leave passports and valuables in a hotel
safe and only carry a photocopy of the data page of your
passport. You should use taxis after dark to minimise the
risk of theft by cyclo or motorbike drivers.



When you are travelling by air, bus or train, remain vigilant
against petty theft, particularly in busy rail and bus stations and
in crowded airports. Always use licensed taxis or
pre-arranged hotel pick-ups when transferring from airports.
You should not accept offers of free transfers to hotels as these
are likely to be bogus.



You are also advised to be cautious when withdrawing money from
ATMs.



It is not advisable to publicly express strong political views or
to take part in political demonstrations.



OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SPORTS



Before taking part in any outdoor or water based sports or
activities, such as kayaking, rock climbing, hang-gliding etc.,
please check that your travel insurance will cover you in the event
of death or injury to yourself or a third party. You
should also be aware that the health and safety requirements in
Vietnam are nowhere near as stringent as in Ireland, and are often
neither observed nor enforced. The risk of a serious or fatal
accident in the course of these activities is therefore much
higher.



ALCOHOL



You should be aware of spiked drinks, particularly late at night in
bars and you are advised not to leave food or drink unattended or
to accept food or drink from strangers. Home made alcohol may be
contaminated with bacteria or with toxic chemicals from pesticides
and should be avoided.



DRUGS



Illegal drugs are increasingly available in major cities and main
tourist resorts. However, you should be aware that drugs are
likely to have been tampered with or spiked. Please see entry below
on local laws and customs.



ENERGY DRINKS



A number of energy drinks, which are banned in European countries
due to the high levels of stimulants they contain, are available in
Vietnam. Many but not all carry health warnings.
Excessive (more than two per day) consumption of these drinks, on
their own or with alcohol can pose a serious danger to health,
particularly to people with pre-existing cardiac or other health
conditions.



LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS



You should avoid any involvement with drugs. Drug
trafficking and possession carry heavy penalties, including the
death penalty, which is enforced in Vietnam. Other
crimes such as sex offences or fraud can result in long prison
terms or a death sentence. The legal system is not very well
developed and the standard of prisons is very poor. Foreign
visitors are not permitted to invite Vietnamese nationals into
their hotel rooms.



Photography of, or near, military installations is generally
prohibited.



LOCAL TRAVEL



Unexploded mines and ordnance are a continuing hazard in former
battlefields, particularly in central Vietnam and along the border
with Laos. You should not stray off main routes in rural
areas and you should check with your tour operator before
travelling to affected regions.



ROAD SAFETY



The standard of driving and vehicle maintenance is poor, including
for public transport and is the cause of many accidents and
injuries. Before you drive any vehicle in Vietnam you must
obtain a Vietnamese driving licence from the Vietnamese Road
Administration in Hanoi (Fax: 00-84-8-829-0458).



Pedestrians should take particular care when crossing roads in
major cities. Driving can be erratic and sometimes
dangerous. Taxis are a common mode of transport but you
should be vigilant as the standard of driving may be poor.



Motorbike use: Accidents involving motorbikes or scooters,
often causing serious injury, long term brain damage or death, are
a common occurrence. If you decide to rent or purchase a motorbike
or scooter please take the same precautions as you would at home.
These include wearing a helmet, observing speed limits and obeying
the rules of the road. Never drive under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. Failure to follow this advice is likely to invalidate your
insurance coverage if you are involved in an accident. Please note
that the use of crash helmets is compulsory for motorbike users and
passengers. Please note also that in the event of an
accident, third parties involved are likely to have little or no
insurance.



HEALTH



It is strongly recommended that you obtain comprehensive travel and
medical insurance (including medical evacuation) before
travelling. You should check any exclusions and that your
policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
The standard of health care is sufficient for treating minor
injuries in the major cities but more complicated treatment may
require evacuation to a third country.



AH1N1



Citizens are advised that there have been a number of reported
cases of, and fatalities from, AH1N1 in Vietnam. Most of these
cases have occurred in the south but cases have also been reported
in Hanoi.



Citizens are advised to consult the web-site of the Department of
Health and Children (www.dohc.ie)
and may also wish to access the dedicated Vietnam site created by
the WHO on the A(H1N1) outbreak http://www.wpro.who.int/vietnam/home.htm
for updates on the situation.



Cholera



There are frequent outbreaks of cholera in the Northern Provinces
of Vietnam. WHO advice to those travelling is these regions
is to practise vigilant hygiene: hand-washing with soap before and
after eating, cooking and using the toilet; eating only
thoroughly-cooked foods; and drinking only safe (bottled or boiled)
water. Further information about cholera might be sought on
the following website: www.who.int under ‘health topics’.



Avian Influenza



There have been outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in
Vietnam. This has led to a small number of human fatalities
which are believed to have arisen through close contact with
infected poultry.



The risk from avian influenza is believed to be low provided you
avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places
where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild
birds and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly
cooked.



The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility
that avian influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human
flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form easily transmissible
between persons.



Irish citizens living longer-term in an avian influenza affected
region should take personal responsibility for their own safety in
the event of a future pandemic including consideration of their
access to adequate healthcare and ensuring that ravel documents are
kept up to date.



Dengue Fever



Dengue Fever is common in many parts of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
but particularly in the southern Mekong Delta area. There is no
vaccine against this disease. You should take care to avoid
mosquito bites during the day, especially just after dawn and just
before dusk. Further information about dengue fever might be sought
on the following website: http://www.who.int/en/ under ‘health
topics’.



Other Diseases



Malaria and Japanese encephalitis occur in many areas of Vietnam
and these diseases are also transmitted by mosquitoes.
Typhoid can be a problem in the Mekong Delta. Your doctor
will advise as to appropriate prophylactic measures or vaccines,
depending on the length of your stay and the areas you intend to
visit.



HIV and AIDS and other sexually-transmitted or blood-borne
infections


In the 2006 Report on the Global Aids Epidemic, the UNAIDS/WHO
Working Group estimated that around 250,000 adults aged 15 or over
were living with HIV in Vietnam, around 0.5% of the adult
population. Hepatitis (B and C) is also prevalent. You are advised
to protect yourself against infection by:



•Using condoms with new sexual partners;
•Never share needles or syringes – if you require
self-administered injections bring an adequate supply with
you;
•Be aware that medical standards will not be the same as at
home – equipment may not be adequately sterilised, nor blood
screened for HIV and hepatitis B or C;
•Don’t have a tattoo, acupuncture treatment or body piercing
unless you are satisfied the equipment is sterile.



CASH/BANKING



You should bring enough money for your stay. US Dollars are
most widely accepted. Credit cards are becoming more widely
known, but outside the main centres you may find that cash is the
only acceptable currency and you may find it difficult to cash
travellers’ cheques. ATM distribution is still poor and
limited to the major cities and tourist areas. However, it is


possible to have money transferred to Vietnam by international
money transfer companies.
Foreign passport holders may exchange up to US$500 worth of
Vietnamese Dong back into US Dollars on departure.



NATURAL DISASTERS



Between the months of June and December, Central and Northern
Vietnam are affected by seasonal storms and typhoons.
Provincial areas are often affected by flooding which may result in
disruption to infrastructure and possible loss of life. You
should check with your travel agent before travelling to affected
areas.



Vietnam, in particular the Central Region and Mekong Delta, is
subject to sporadic flooding in the monsoon season (the timing of
this varies across the country but is usually from June to
October). This can cause considerable damage to the
infrastructure and on occasions has left whole areas isolated,
including border crossing points into Laos. You should check
the situation carefully through the media, weather reports,
transport services and tour operators before embarking on journeys
into the interior of the country.



Accidents have occurred during mountain climbing excursions in the
north of the country. You are advised to undertake such
activity under the supervision of reputable guides.


]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:41:07 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Authentication of Documents]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72006</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Introduction


The Department of Foreign Affairs can Authenticate\Apostille
documents executed in Ireland that are to be used in other
countries.Irish Diplomatic and
Consular Missions abroad can legalise documents executed
abroad for use in Ireland.

Authenticating a document simply means confirming that a signature,
seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine.
Legalising a document means authenticating it for the purpose of
making it acceptable to an Irish court.

Authentication and Legalisation do not mean that the content of a
document is accurate or that the Department of Foreign Affairs
approves of the content.


Why do documents need to be Authenticated\Apostilled?


If you are going to use Irish documents overseas, for business or
personal reasons, you may be asked to have your documents
Authenticated\Apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs. You
should therefore confirm with the authority to whom you are
presenting the documents what their requirements are with regard to
Authentication\Legalisation.


What is an Apostille?


The 1961 Hague Convention abolished the requirement for Foreign
Public Documents (e.g. birth, death and marriage certificates,
documents issued by a Notary Public) to be legalised for countries
that are parties to the Convention. The Convention entered into
force for Ireland on 9 March 1999. For further information on the
Hague Convention please access their website.

However, countries that are parties to the Convention may request
the bearer of a document issued by a public authority to obtain an
Apostille from the Authorities of the country that issued the
document.

An Apostille involves the addition of a certificate, either stamped
on the document itself or attached to it. It certifies the country
of origin of the document, the identity and capacity in which the
document has been signed and the name of any authority which has
affixed a seal or stamp to the document.


Documents we can Authenticate\Apostille


The Department of Foreign Affairs can Authenticate\Apostille
documents of Irish origin provided that they bear an original
signature, seal or stamp from an Irish practising public official
or organisation. An Irish document means that it originated or has
been executed in Ireland. If a practising Irish solicitor, Notary
Public or Commissioner for Oaths is signing a document they should
state clearly what exactly it is they are certifying in relation to
the document. They must sign their own name and not use a company
signature.


Examples of Documents the Department can Authenticate\Apostille
are:


The Department of Foreign Affairs can Authenticate\Apostille public
documents which have been executed in the territory of One
Contracting State and which have to be produced in the territory of
another Contracting State.


Examples:



Original certificates issued by the General Registers
Office (GRO)


Company documents issued by the Companies Registration Office


Documents signed by the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland


Court documents, Powers of Attorney, and other Notarial Acts can be
Authenticated provided they bear an original signature, seal or
stamp from a practising Irish solicitor\ Notary Public in Ireland


Educational Certificates can be Authenticated provided they fall
within the National Framework of Qualifications established by the
National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland\are recognised
by the Department of Education.


We can also Authenticate\Apostille medical reports signed by a
doctor who is registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.



An appointment is necessary for large numbers of documents and for
full foreign adoption dossiers.


Photocopies of DocumentsWe can
Authenticate\Apostille photocopies of certain types of documents
provided they have been certified by a practising Irish Solicitor
or Notary Public in Ireland. However, you should in the first
instance confirm with the authority to whom you are presenting the
document that a certified copy will be acceptable to them.


How to get your Document Authenticated\Apostilled


Documents that have been executed in Ireland, and which are to be
Authenticated or Apostilled by the Department can be:


Presented to the Department at its Public Office at the following
address:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
Hainault House
69 - 71 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2


or sent via post to:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2


Documents sent by post must include the
following:
A brief covering letter stating your name, return address,
telephone number, you must state what country the document(s) are
for use in, and you must include the appropriate
fee.


Tel. (01) 408 2174
(01) 408 2322
(01) 408 2061
(01) 408 2576

For the Munster area:


Consular Services,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
1A South Mall,
Cork

Tel: 021 4944765 / 021 4944766


Opening Hours:The opening hours for the
Public Offices in Dublin and Cork are as follows:
Monday - Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
0930 - 1300
1430 - 1600

FeesA fee of €20 is charged for each
Apostille or Authentication. There is a standard fee of
€50 for a series of Apostilles or Authentications in relation
to inter-country adoptions.


Please note that there may be an additional administration fee if
applying for these services from our officesabroad. Fees will
be notified on request.


Methods of Payment
This section relates to services available at the Department of
Foreign Affairs in Dublin and Cork.


Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque (made payable to 'Department of
Foreign Affairs'), Postal Order, Bank Draft, or by Credit\Debit
card.


It should be noted that all cheques must be drawn on an Irish bank.


Legalisation


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad can legalise
documents executed abroad for use in Ireland.


Administering oaths, affirmations and
statutory declarations and certifying copies of documents:


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Officers abroad are empowered under
Irish law to administer oaths, affirmations and statutory
declarations. They can also certify copies of original Irish
documents or translations. 


If you require any of these services, contact your nearest
   Irish Diplomatic or Consular
   Mission.


The fee for these services in local currency and methods of payment
will be notified, on request, by the relevant Mission.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:23:02 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Who needs a Visa?]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71996</link>
					<description><![CDATA[       

Citizens of certain countries require an entry visa for Ireland.


If you are a citizen of a country that is on schedule 1
below,you do NOT require an entry visa for Ireland.
Citizens of countries which are not on the list must apply for a
visa before they travel to Ireland.


Please note that a Schengen or UK visa or residence
permission is NOT valid for travel to Ireland. If you
area national ofa visa-required country you will need
to apply for an Irish visa in advance of travel to Ireland.


Transit VisasARE required by citizens of the
countries listed in schedule 2 below.

All citizens of non-EU countries, whether they require a
visa or not, are subject to immigration control at the point of
entry to Ireland.


SCHEDULE 1



LIST OF COUNTRIES
WHOSE PASSPORT HOLDERS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER
IRELAND:


ANDORRA
ANTIGUA and BARBUDA
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BAHAMAS
BARBADOS
BELGIUM
BELIZE
BOLIVIA
BOTSWANA
BRAZIL
BRUNEI
BULGARIA
CANADA
CHILE
COSTA RICA
CROATIA
CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC
DENMARK
DOMINICA
EL SALVADOR
ESTONIA
FIJI
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
GRENADA
GUATEMALA
GUYANA
HONDURAS
HONG KONG (Special Administrative Region) (*See further information
below).
HUNGARY
ICELAND
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAPAN
KIRIBATI
LATVIA
LESOTHO
LIECHTENSTEIN
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBOURG
MACAU (Special Administrative Region)
MALAWI
MALAYSIA
MALDIVES
MALTA
MEXICO
MONACO
NAURU
NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
NICARAGUA
NORWAY
PANAMA
PARAGUAY
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROMANIA
SAINT KITTS &amp;amp; NEVIS
SAINT LUCIA
SAINT VINCENT &amp;amp; THE GRENADINES
SAMOA
SAN MARINO
SEYCHELLES
SINGAPORE
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
SLOVENIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH KOREA
SPAIN
SWAZILAND
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
TAIWAN
TONGA
TRINIDAD &amp;amp; TOBAGO
TUVALU
UNITED KINGDOM&amp;amp; Dependent Territories (noted below)
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
URUGUAY
VANUATU
VATICAN CITY
VENEZUELA


BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES



ANGUILLA
BERMUDA
BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY (South Georgia, South Sandwich
Islands)
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORIES(Chagos Archipelago, Peros
Banos, Diego Garcia, Danger Island)
CAYMAN ISLANDS
FALKLAND ISLANDS and DEPENDICIES
GIBRALTAR
MONTSERRAT
PITCAIRN (Henderson, Ducie and Oneno Islands)
St. HELENA and DEPENDICIES (Ascension Island, Tristan Da
Cunha)
The SOVERIGN BASE AREAS of AKROTIRI and DHEKILA
TURKS and CAICOS ISLAND
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS


*HONG KONG SAR


A person in possession of a Hong Kong certificate of identity
requires an entry visa for the State.


Personswho are holders of aBritish Hong
Kong Passportwho have a right of abode in Great
Britain do not require entry visas.


Personswho are holders of aBritish Hong
Kong Passportwho have a right of abode in Hong Kong
only do not require entry visas but they are subject to full
foreign national controls in respect of registration, permission to
remain,work permits etc.


CONVENTION TRAVEL DOCUMENTS


Visas are not required by persons who are holders
ofConvention travel documents issued by the following
countries:


BELGIUM
CZECH REPUBLIC
DENMARK
FINLAND
GERMANY
ICELAND
ITALY
LIECHTENSTEIN
LUXEMBOURG
MALTA
NETHERLANDS
NORWAY
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROMANIA
SLOVAKIA
SPAIN
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND.


Applicants who are holders of Convention travel documents issued by
EEA states should refer to Article 3 of the
   
Immigration Act 2004 Order 2009 (PDF
109kb)(Shortvisits
only).
 

SCHEDULE 2


TRANSIT VISAS ARE REQUIRED BY
CITIZENS OF THE FOLLOWING:



AFGHANISTAN
ALBANIA
CUBA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
GHANA
IRAN
IRAQ
LEBANON
MOLDOVA
MONTENEGRO
NIGERIA
SERBIA
SOMALIA
SRI LANKA
ZIMBABWE

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:16:09 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[About Vietnam]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72043</link>
					<description><![CDATA[Vietnam Country Information 
Location: South East Asia 
Population: 86 million (est. 2008) 
GDP per capita: $1024 
GDP growth: 6.23% (2008) 
Principal Exports: Coffee, crude oil, rubber, textiles 
Ethnic Groups: Kinh (86%) 
Land Area: 333,000 km2 

Summary 
Vietnam is situated in South East Asia. It has a total land area of 333,000 square kilometres stretching 1,800 kilometres from north to south and has a coastline of 3,260 kilometres. The population is currently estimated at 84 million. Vietnam is rapidly evolving from a mainly agricultural and rural economy to one embracing globalisation. Almost 75% of the population is rural and is concentrated in the country’s two deltas. The main ethnic group, the Kinh, represents 86% of the total population while there are 53 minority ethnic groups concentrated in the upland areas. 

Vietnam is a one-party socialist state. Power rests with the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) whose central role in politics and society is confirmed by the Constitution. The CPV holds ultimate responsibility for policy, which is executed and administered by the Government. There is no division of powers in the western sense. However, the National Assembly increasingly seeks to hold the Government to account. Elections for the National Assembly and the representative bodies at provincial and lower level take place every five years. Candidates do not have to be members of the CPV but need to be approved by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, an umbrella organisation dominated by the CPV. The Grassroots Democracy Decree of 1998, revised in 2003, foresees limited participation by the population in decision-making and implementation at the local level. 

Recent Vietnamese history is a story of protracted struggle against domination by outside powers, from China in the 19th century to France, Japan and latterly the US. Vietnam was reunified after US withdrawal in 1975 under communist rule. Vietnam’s presence in Cambodia in 1978 led to UN sanctions, resulting in Vietnam’s international isolation until 1989. Following the withdrawal of US objections, the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank resumed credits and loans to Vietnam in 1993. This was followed by a significant increase in donor funding. The government led Doi Moi (renovation) reform process began in 1986, resulting in a doubling of the GDP during the 1990’s. 

Vietnam has been amongst the fastest growing economies in the world for the past two decades. This has been achieved with only a modest increase in inequality while bringing a dramatic reduction in poverty from 58% of the population in 1993 to 20% in 2004. The next five years will see major challenges as Vietnam opens further to the market economy. Preventing significant growth in inequality will be a major challenge. Many of the required reforms are considered “locked in” following Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in January 2007. ]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:32:16 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[News Update]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71976</link>
					<description><![CDATA[



Ronan Keating visited Vietnam on 19 September 2009. During his
short stay in Hanoi, the Embassy arranged a surprise visit to Thanh
Xuan Peace Village, where the children entertained him with singing
and dance performances. He responded with the traditional Irish
love song &quot;She Moves Through the Fair&quot;. He is pictured here with
Hoang Duc Tho, aged 12, from Tam Nong district of Phu Tho Province,
north of Hanoi.


Ronan Keating tới Việt Nam ng&#224;y 19/9/2009. Trong chuyến thăm ngắn
ng&#224;y tại H&#224; Nội, Đại Sứ qu&#225;n đ&#227; tổ chức một chuyến thăm bất ngời
tới L&#224;ng H&#242;a B&#236;nh Thanh Xu&#226;n, tại đ&#226;y c&#225;c em đ&#227; biểu diễn h&#225;t v&#224;
nhảy. Ronan Keating đ&#227; h&#225;t tặng c&#225;c em một b&#224;i h&#225;t truyền thống Ai
Len &quot;She Moves Through the Fair&quot;. Trong ảnh l&#224; em Ho&#224;n Đức Thọ, 12
tuổi, từ huyện Tam N&#244;ng tỉnh Ph&#250;c Thọ.





Thanh Xuan Peace Village was established in 1991 to provide
rehabilitation, treatment, care and support, and counselling
service to 130 children with disabilities and victims of agent
orange/dioxin. The Village has 55 staff members including 11
doctors. Ireland Aid has supported with a grant of €3,000 from a
fund-raising event. Working with people with disabilities is a key
part of Irish Aid's country strategy in Vietnam [link to CSP here].
Seen here, Ronan Keating gives a &quot;thumbs up&quot; to the many talented
children of Thanh Xuan Peace Village on 19 September 2009.


L&#224;ng H&#242;a B&#236;nh Thanh Xu&#226;n được th&#224;nh lập năm 1991 với chức năng cung
cấp c&#225;c dịch vụ phục hồi chức năng, điều trị, chăm s&#243;c v&#224; hỗ trợ,
v&#224; tư vấn cho 130 trẻ em khuyết tật v&#224; nạn nh&#226;n chất độc m&#224;u da cam
v&#224; đi&#244;xin. L&#224;ng c&#243; 55 nh&#226;n vi&#234;n bao gồm 11 b&#225;c sĩ. Ai Len đ&#227; t&#224;i
trợ €3,000 cho L&#224;ng từ một hoạt động g&#226;y quỹ từ thiện. Hỗ trợ người
khuyết tật l&#224; một trọng t&#226;m trong chiến lược viện trợ của Irish Aid
tại Việt Nam. Ronan Keating với c&#225;c c&#225;c em nhỏ L&#224;ng H&#242;a B&#236;nh Thanh
Xu&#226;n, ng&#224;y 19/9/2009





Country Strategy Paper - 
English (PDF 10402kb) 
Vietnamese (PDF 10439kb)

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:57:21 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Living & Working in Ireland]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=78331</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Practicalities of Moving to Ireland
A detailed guide can be found on the Citizens Information website.

Education in IrelandHere you
will find a description of theEducation system in Ireland and
also a series of links to information on Primary, Secondary and
Third Level Education.


Deptartment of
Education and Science

Working
in Ireland
The rights of EU nationals and non-EU nationals for working in
Ireland.


Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Health Care
in Ireland
An outline of health care services in Ireland, including public and
private health care, and health insurance.


Deptartment of
Education and Science

Useful Links for
Employment Seekers
A useful starting point for job seekers is F&#193;S - Ireland's National
Training and Employment Authority.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:08:21 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Useful Links Relating to Vietnam]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=80914</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Government links


Government of Vietnam Portal – www.vietnam.gov.vn


General Statistics Office - www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx


State Bank of Vietnam - www.sbv.gov.vn/en


English Language Media/Newspapers:


Vietnam News Agency - www.vnanet.com


Vietnam News – http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/ 


Thanh Nien - www.thanhniennews.com/


Vietnam Investment Review – www.vir.com.vn/


International Links


United Nations - www.un.org.vn/


International Monetary Fund - www.imf.org/external/country/vnm/index.htm


World Bank Offices in Vietnam - www.worldbank.org/vn



European Commission Delegation in Vietnam - http://www.delvnm.ec.europa.eu/





Sport


Viet-Celts Gaelic Football Club - http://www.vietcelts.com/

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:04:37 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[The Economy]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=78308</link>
					<description><![CDATA[


General Information



10 Key Facts on the Irish Economy 




Public Finances



National Development Plan



Population, Labour Force and Employment



EU Membership



Ireland and the Euro



Monetary Policy



Inward Investment



Outward Investment



Education &amp;amp; Training



Innovation and R&amp;amp;D



Corporation Tax



E-commerce and the New Economy



State-sponsored Bodies



Exports



Imports



General Government Balance



Industry



Foreign Direct Investment



Irish Enterprise Sector



Finance



Services



Industrial relations



Agricualture



Fishing



Tourism



Transport



Energy



Mining/Quarrying



Telecommunications



Newspapers



Radio &amp;amp; Television



The Irish economy has
experienced extraordinary growth over the past fifteen years.
Consolidating the progress made during the 1990s - characterised as
the “Celtic Tiger” phenomenon - it is now one of the world’s most
dynamic, open and globalised economies, with extensive external
trade and investment links. Ireland has consistently topped
the economic growth tables of the 30-member OECD (Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development) and has close to full
employment. GDP growth in 2007 was 5.3% and average income
per head was approximately 145% of the EU average. All
indications are that Ireland will continue to perform well in terms
of GDP growth.


Ireland’s economic success is generally attributed to its highly
educated and flexible workforce; its social partnership model,
which involves close cooperation between government, trade unions
and employers; government measures to ensure macroeconomic
stability and government policies to attract foreign investment;
and membership of the EU, which now provides a market of almost 500
million people.


Ireland has a consistent record of prudent fiscal policy with an
average Government budget surplus of 1.6% of GDP over the past ten
years. The fourth seven-year National Development Plan, which
was launched by the Government in January 2007, provides for total
capital investment of €100 billion (5.4% of GDP) and current
expenditure of €84 billion.


Over the past five years, Irish trade has grown three times faster
than total world trade, with over 80% of all manufacturing output
in Ireland sold in international markets. In an Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey from 2006, Ireland is ranked as one
of the top countries in the world in which to do business. It
has developed a strong entrepreneurial culture and has one of the
highest rates of new start-up companies in the world.


Ireland is a leading location for Information Communication
Technology (ICT), pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and Dublin
is one of the fastest growing funds management locations in the
world. Ireland is also the centre for digital media in Europe
with major multinational companies locating their European
headquarters and a range of business support activities here.


Ireland has developed as a knowledge-based economy built on
innovation and technology and shaped by the emergence of strong
technology-led and export-focused companies. The Government’s 2006
– 2013 strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation emphasises
the benefits of international collaboration and places research and
development at the heart of Ireland’s economic development. Science
Foundation Ireland (SFI) contributes to enhancing research
capabilities and skills in Irish Universities, particularly in
biotechnology, and information and communications technology.


Ireland receives the top long-term and short-term credit ratings
from all four major international credit rating agencies. These are
based, in particular, on the strong public finances; the favourable
demographic structure and future pension liabilities; a diversified
and flexible economy that has attracted sustained foreign direct
investment inflows in recent years and achieved the highest growth
rate in the EU since 1995; a low debt burden; a high degree of
fiscal flexibility, the business-friendly regulatory environment;
low taxation levels and a highly educated workforce.



Top of Page


10 Key Facts on the Irish Economy


Please click 
here (PDF 34kb) to access the PDF version of this
document.


Public Finances


There is general agreement among the main political parties on the
broad direction of economic and social policy. National
programmes involving the Government, trade unions, employers,
voluntary organisations and farming representatives acting together
as ‘social partners’ have successfully operated over many years to
bring about economic and social improvement.



Top of Page


National Development Plan


The National Development Plan 2007-2013, entitled Transforming
Ireland - A Better Quality of Life for All, was launched in January
2007. The Plan is the largest and most ambitious investment
programme ever proposed for Ireland. It builds on, and
consolidates, the achievements of the previous National Development
Plan (2000 – 2006) and provides for a total investment of €183.7
billion: €54.7 billion for investment in economic infrastructure;
€49.6 billion for social inclusion measures (children, people with
disabilities, etc.); €33.6 billion for social infrastructure
(housing, health, justice, etc.); €25.8 billion for human capital
(schools, training, higher education, etc.), and €20 billion for
enterprise, science and innovation.


National Development
Plan



Top of Page


Population, Labour Force, and Employment


Reversing decades of decline, Ireland’s population has been
steadily increasing since the 1970s, and now stands at over 4.23
million (2007). This is the highest population figure since
the census of 1861 when the population is recorded as 4.4
million. Unemployment was 4.6% in June 2007.



Top of Page


EU Membership


Ireland’s accession to the EEC in 1973 was a decisive milestone in
opening Ireland to the global economy and reducing its economic
dependence on the UK. Since accession, per capita GDP in
Ireland has increased from almost 60% of the EU average in 1973 to
well over 100% today. Since 1973, the proportion of exports
to non-UK destinations has increased from 45% to over 83% today.



Top of Page


Ireland and the Euro


The ease with which Ireland qualified for membership of the Euro in
1999 underlined the dramatic improvement in the country’s economy
and public finances. Membership of the Euro was embraced by
Ireland’s internationally oriented business community, which viewed
it as a logical step in the further integration of European markets
and as a boost to Ireland’s credibility as a location for
internationally mobile investment.



Top of Page


Monetary Policy


In May 1998, Ireland, having satisfied entry criteria covering
public finances, the exchange rate, the interest rate and
inflation, qualified as one of the first round of participants to
adopt the new EU currency. Along with 11 other EU Member States,
Ireland now participates in Economic and Monetary Union which
commenced on 1 January 1999. The Euro was introduced as the unit of
currency on 1 Jan 2002.


On 1 January 1999 the Eurosystem,
comprising the European Central Bank (ECB) and National
Central Banks (NCBs) of the EU Member States which adopted the
euro, assumed the task of formulating and implementing the single
monetary policy for the euro area. The objective of the single
monetary policy is price stability. In order to make the
appropriate interest-rate decisions to maintain price stability,
the ECB, along with all other major central banks, has a clear and
coherent conceptual framework for the policy-making process. This
is referred to as the monetary-policy strategy.



Top of Page


Inward Investment


Inward investment has been critically important to Ireland’s
economic development, providing tens of thousands of jobs,
disseminating technological know-how and expertise within the wider
economy, linking up with indigenous industry, boosting
productivity, and underpinning export growth.



Top of Page


Outward Investment


Outward investment by Irish companies has increased noticeably in
recent years, albeit from a very low historic base. This emerging
trend is consistent with the pattern observed in other economies as
they move to higher stages of economic development.



Top of Page


Education and Training


Education and Training is a vital component of Ireland’s
knowledge-based economy, and is a priority investment under the
National Development Plan. Ireland enjoys one of the best
education systems in the world, with approximately 1 million people
in full time education.



Top of Page


Innovation and R&amp;amp;D


R+D in Ireland has expanded dramatically in recent years reflecting
the Irish government’s massive injection of funding into the
sector. Leading global companies have found Ireland to be an
excellent location for knowledge-based activities. The young Irish
workforce has shown a particular aptitude for the efficient
collection, interpretation and dissemination of research
information.



Top of Page


Corporation Tax


Since 2003 Ireland’s corporate tax regime has been fixed at a rate
of 12.5%. This applies to all Irish corporate trading
profits. A rate of 25% applies to non-trading (passive)
income. Existing overseas operations, which were eligible for
a 10% rate, will retain entitlement to this rate until the end of
the year 2010.



Top of Page


E-Commerce and the New Economy


The Irish government has moved decisively to prepare Ireland for
the e-commerce age. Initiatives undertaken include the
liberalisation of the telecommunications market, a substantial
investment programme in broadband infrastructure and introduction
of the most e-commerce friendly regulatory environment in Europe.


Ireland is acknowledged to be one of the most outward looking and
open economies in the EU. It is therefore sensitive to
changes in the global economy.



Top of Page


State-Sponsored Bodies


There are about 100 State-sponsored bodies in Ireland employing
about 57,000 people. They are engaged in a wide variety of
activities including transport, energy and the promotion of
tourism, trade and industrial development.


During the 1990s the Government privatised certain sectors of the
economy including steel and telecommunications. In addition,
the Government has liberalised such sectors as air transportation
and electricity generation.


There is more information about the State-sponsorded bodies in the
Business in Ireland Section.



Top of Page


Exports


In 2007 Ireland’s exports amounted to €88.6 billion. In 2006
the principal destinations for Irish exports were: United States
18%, Great Britain 18%, Belgium 14.3%, Germany 7.5% and France 6%.
The top five categories of Irish Exports for 2006 were: medical
&amp;amp; pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, office machines
&amp;amp; automatic data processing machines, electrical machinery,
apparatus &amp;amp; appliances &amp;amp; parts and miscellaneous
manufactured articles. In 2006, exports of services were valued at
€55 billion.



Top of Page


Imports


In 2007, Ireland’s imports were valued at €62.1 billion. The
principal sources of imports were Great Britain 30%, United States
11.3%, Germany 9%, China 8% and Netherlands 4.2%. The top
five categories of Irish Imports for 2006 were: office machines
&amp;amp; automatic data processing machines, electrical machinery,
apparatus &amp;amp; appliances &amp;amp; parts, road vehicles (include
air-cushion vehicles), miscellaneous manufactured articles and
petroleum, petroleum products &amp;amp; related materials. Imports of
services were valued at €62 billion, Irelands main services
partners were the US, Great Britain, Germany and Italy.



Top of Page


General Government Balance


The Exchequer recorded a surplus of 0.5% of GDP in 2007. The
projected budgetary position over the period 2008 - 2009 is for a
General Government budget deficit of 0.9% of GDP in 2008 and a
deficit of 1.1% of GDP in 2009. The debt-to-GDP ratio will be
maintained among the lowest in the euro area – around 28% for the
forecast period – in line with the Government’s long-term
priorities. The market value of the assets of the National
Pensions Reserve Fund is estimated to be €21 billion at end 2007, a
sum equivalent to 13% of GNP.



Top of Page


Industry


The Industrial sector has a highly skilled technological labour
pool. Within this high technology grouping, the most active sectors
currently are life sciences, medical and information technology
sectors. Many of the world’s leading companies have
subsidiaries in Ireland which perform very successfully in
comparison to those based in other EU countries.


Three agencies deal with industrial development in Ireland. Forf&#225;s
provides overall policy advice and co-ordination for enterprise
development and science, technology and innovation in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland helps develop Irish-based enterprise with the
potential to trade internationally. IDA Ireland, has responsibility
for securing new investment in manufacturing and internationally
traded services. It also has responsibility to encourage existing
Foreign Direct Investors to expand and develop their businesses in
Ireland.


There are also a number of regional development agencies such as
Shannon Development which was set up in 1959 to promote Shannon
International Airport and &#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta, which is the
regional authority responsible for the economic, social and
cultural development of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking parts of the
country).



Top of Page


Foreign Direct Investment


Over 1000 overseas companies have established operations in
Ireland. They are a key driver of the economy employing some
135,000 people directly and many more indirectly. They
account for one quarter of GDP and over 80% of exports. The
focus of IDA Ireland is to attract foreign investment that is of
high value, requiring high skill levels and a sophisticated
business environment.


Key areas of focus are:


-
advanced manufacturing projects in the ICT,pharmaceuticals
and biopharmaceuticals, medical technologies,engineering and
consumer products sectors


- high
value internationally traded services sectors in software,
financial services, shared services and customer support activities


Shannon Development has responsibility for the Shannon Free Zone,
Ireland's largest cluster of North American investments. There are
110 companies in the free zone employing 7,500 people, with total
trade in the zone valued at €2.5 billion.



Top of Page


Irish Enterprise Sector


Enterprise Ireland client companies employ in excess of 141,091
people in Ireland (2006). Total export sales from Enterprise
Ireland clients were valued at €11,779 billion in 2006. The key
sectors in 2006 for Enterprise Ireland clients in order of exports
were Food and Retail, (€7,849 billion), Industrial and Life
Sciences, (€2,493 billion ), Software and services, (€1,437
billion). The largest export markets for Enterprise Ireland Clients
are Northern Europe (€6,740 billion), Southern Europe (€1,377
billion), America's (€1,299 billion), Germany, Central and Eastern
Europe (€849 million), Asia (€654 million), the Rest of the World
(€ 154 million).


&#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta supports businesses in developing new
markets, technologies, products and strategic alliances through
research and development. Gaeltacht companies span a range of
commercial sectors, including tourism, fish processing and
aquaculture, renewable energy, food, life sciences, ICT, niche
manufacturing, audio visual and digital media, arts and crafts.
Over 12,000 people are employed in &#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta client
companies.


InterTradeIreland is a North/South Implementation Body established
in 1999 pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement, promotes trade and
business on an all-island and cross-border basis, and works to
enhance the global competitiveness of the all-island economy to the
mutual benefit of Ireland and Northern Ireland.





National Development Plan




Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair (National Training Authority)




Higher Education and
Training Awards Council




Further Education
and Training Awards Council




National Centre for
Partnership and Performance




National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland




National Standards
Authority of Ireland




Economic and Social
Research Institute




Science Foundation
Ireland




Irish Business and
Employers Confederation




Central Bank
of Ireland






Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment




Forf&#225;s




IDA
Ireland




Enterprise Ireland




Shannon
Development




&#218;dar&#225;s na
Gaeltachta




Intertrade Ireland






Top of Page


Finance


Dublin's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), which was
set up by the Irish Government with EU approval in 1987, is
globally recognised as a leading location for a range of
internationally traded financial services, including banking, asset
financing, fund management, corporate treasury management,
investment management, custody and administration and specialized
insurance operations.


More than 430 international operations are approved to trade in the
IFSC, while a further 700 managed entities are approved to carry on
business under the IFSC programme. The centre is host to half
of the world's top 50 banks and to half of the top 20 insurance
companies. It is expected that the International Financial
Services Centre will continue to make a major contribution to
Ireland and the goal of policy is to ensure that we will continue
to attract new operations and provide a supportive business
environment for this important sector.





Department of
Finance




International
Financial Services Centre




Office of the
Comptroller and Auditor General




National Treasury
Management Agency





Top of Page

Services


The service sector in Ireland accounts for over half of GDP and for
65 per cent of employment. Throughout the last decade output of
services has grown strongly, largely as a result of growth in
financial services, telecommunications and tourism.



Top of Page


Industrial Relations


Over 50 per cent of the employee labour force are organised in
trade unions of which there are 50 in Ireland. The Irish Congress
of Trade Unions is the national co-ordinating body for most of
these. The Irish Business and Employers Confederation represents
the interests of employers at national level.


The Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court are the
principal mediation bodies. Their role is to assist in the
settlement of disputes.





Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment




Labour Relations
Commission




Labour
Court




Equality
Authority




Irish Congress of
Trade Unions




Irish Business and
Employers Confederation






Top of Page


Agriculture


The Agri-Food industry makes a significant contribution to the
Irish economy. The combined agri-food and drink sector had
exports of over €8 billion in 2006 and accounts for almost 9% of
GDP and directly employs 166,000 people. In particular, the
industry plays a major role in the indigenous sector, with
approximately 50% of exports from Irish owned companies deriving
from agri-food and drink companies. The linkage of the
agri-food sector to the rest of the economy is exceptionally high
and, given its low import content, the sector currently contributes
in the order of 20% to net foreign earnings from merchandise
exports.


Of the total land area of approximately 7 million hectares (17
million acres), 5 million hectares (12.32 million acres) are
utilised for agricultural purposes (including forestry).
Cattle-raising and dairying are by far the most important sectors
of the agricultural industry, and livestock (mainly cattle) and
livestock products (principally milk), account for 76 per cent of
the value of gross agricultural output. The main crops are
barley, wheat, potatoes and mushrooms.





Department
of Agriculture and Food




Bord Bia




Teagasc
(Agriculture &amp;amp; Food Development Authority)




Food Safety Authority
of Ireland






Top of Page


Fishing


The Irish seafood industry provides employment for over 15,000
people. It makes a significant contribution to the economic
and social fabric of the many small communities located in mainly
rural areas or small towns and villages around the 7,500 kilometres
of our coastline.


Total Irish sales of
seafood in 2007 on the home and export markets amounted to €803
million which represents an increase of 9% on the previous
year. The main contributor to the growth in revenue was the
ongoing rapid growth of the domestic market with seafood sales to
the retail sector valued at €169 million, up by 7% on 2006 and
sales to food service valued at €213 million, an increase of
5%. The increase in sales was mainly driven by the growing
consumer awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of
seafood.


Approximately half of the increase in domestic seafood sales was
met through increased imports which grew by 16% to reach €144
million in 2006. In contrast, export sales were up by a mere
2% to reach €362.2 million. This was the result of sharply
opposite trends with pelagic fish exports (e.g. mackerel) falling
by 27% (€78.8 million) while increased exports were recorded for
all other categories, the most notable being the increase of 16% in
shellfish exports (€147 million).





Department of
Communications, Energy &amp;amp; Natural Resources




Bord Iascaigh
Mhara






Top of Page


Tourism


In 2007, overseas tourist visits to the whole island of Ireland
increased by more than 4% to 9.1 million, a new record. These
increases in visitor numbers, and the associated growth in tourist
spending, have provided the foundations on which the tourism
industry’s enhanced contribution to the national economy has been
built. Expenditure by visitors to Ireland, both North and
South, is estimated to be worth €4.5 billion in 2007. It is
estimated that the total number of people employed in the Irish
tourism and catering industry in 2007 was over 230,000. The
industry is Ireland’s biggest indigenous employer and is a major
contributor to the Irish economy. Allowing for indirect and induced
effects, tourism accounted for 3.8% of GNP in 2007.


Tourism Ireland was established under the framework of the Belfast
Agreement of Good Friday 1998 to co-ordinate the work of the two
tourist boards on the island, F&#225;ilte Ireland and the Northern
Ireland Tourist Board, who are responsible for product and
enterprise development and marketing to tourism consumers within
the island of Ireland.


Ireland’s successful tourism industry is built around the three
themes: Irish people; Irish culture and the physical beauty of the
country. The people of Ireland are recognised for being friendly,
charming and witty. They are attentive but relaxed and welcoming.
These characteristics allow our visitors to interact easily with
local people and connect with the island on a human level. Culture
on the island of Ireland reflects the character of its people and
the beauty of its landscape and historic sites. Visitors can vary
the pace of their holiday experience, from a relaxed appreciation
of the historic culture to a more active involvement in the vibrant
living culture. Ireland is also celebrated as a rich tapestry of
breathtaking landscapes and seascapes steeped in history creates a
varied experience for the visitor, all within easy reach. It is an
experience that fills the senses – an energising journey of
discovery and enrichment





Department of Arts, Sport &amp;amp; Tourism




F&#225;ilte
Ireland




Tourism
Ireland




Tourism
Information
(Domestic)






Top of Page


Transport


Coras Iompair &#201;ireann (CIE) is the national statutory public
transport service in Ireland. The CIE group of companies comprises
a holding company and three subsidiary operating companies which
provide train, bus, coach and ancillary services throughout the
country. Iarnr&#243;d &#201;ireann (Irish Rail) operates the nationwide
mainline rail services, the Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) and
other suburban rail services as well as rail freight services. Bus
&#201;ireann (Irish Bus) operates a comprehensive network of bus
services outside Dublin City, including expressway inter-urban
coach services; city buses in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;
rural bus services; and international services. Bus &#193;tha Cliath
(Dublin Bus) operates urban bus services in the greater Dublin
area. The latest addition to the country’s public transport system
came with the opening of the Luas lines in 2004. Luas is a
Light Rail Transit (LRT) system (a public transport tram system)
that operates in Dublin.


An integrated transport system for Dublin, to include seven new
Luas projects, two Metro lines, an underground station at St.
Stephen's Green integrating all services and the Western Rail
Corridor are among the investments outlined in Transport 21, the
Government's €34.4 billion transport investment plan.


There is a significant investment programme underway upgrading the
national roads system. More than €16 billion is being spent
improving the inter-urban motorway network. This is undertaken by
the National Roads Authority.


The majority of passengers visiting Ireland use one of the main
airports - Dublin, Shannon and Cork. There are also a number of
regional airports throughout the country. Dublin Airport is
Ireland's busiest airport and is also amongst the ten busiest
airports in Europe. Dublin Airport manages an average of
60,000 passengers per day, rising to 80,000 during the peak season,
and more than 600 aircrafts movements every day. The Dublin Airport
Authority is investing €2 billion in new and improved facilities in
the airport.





Department of
Transport




Irish Aviation
Authority




Commission for
Aviation Regulation




Irish
Ferries




Iarnr&#243;d
&#201;ireann




Coras Iompair
&#201;ireann




Bus &#193;tha
Cliath




Bus &#201;ireann




Dublin Airport Authority




Aer Lingus




Ryanair




National Roads
Authority




Transport
21




Dublin
Airport






Top of Page


Energy


The Government’s Energy Policy Framework for the period 2007-2020
was published in March 2007. The policy aims to deliver a
sustainable energy future for Ireland. Although Ireland faces
similar energy challenges to those being confronted worldwide, the
Irish situation is made more acute by our small energy market,
peripherality and limited indigenous fuel resources.
Sustained economic growth and population growth also add to the
challenges for Irish energy policy. There are however major
opportunities to be realised in harnessing the full potential of
Ireland’s renewable and bioenergy resources.


The National Development Plan 2007-2013 will see some €8.5billion
in investment in energy, funded in part by the Exchequer, by the
Semi-State Energy Bodies and from other non-public sources.


While Ireland is totally dependent on imports for its oil supply,
the proportion of primary energy derived from oil has been reduced
significantly in the last decade in line with EU policy.


Ireland has a largely stand-alone electricity grid. An
electricity interconnector with Northern Ireland was
re-commissioned in 1995 and is used to optimise peak demand
management. Electricity demand has continued to rise,
however, and a major task for the electricity industry is to
increase generation resources in line with electricity demand.


There has been close cooperation with Northern Ireland on energy
issues over the past few years. A key outcome was the joint
publication of the All-island Energy Market Development Framework
in November 2004. The Framework sets out the commitment of
both Governments to achieving a single energy market.


The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is the State-owned generator and
distributor of electricity. From 2000, under an EU Directive,
the electricity market is open to competition. The Commission
for Electricity Regulation, established in 1999, licences the
generation and supply of electricity.


Natural gas from Irish offshore fields is making an important
contribution towards energy requirements. Bord G&#225;is &#201;ireann (the
Gas Supply Board) is a State-owned company responsible for the
supply, transmission and distribution of natural gas. It
operates transmission lines bringing gas from Kinsale Head, off the
coast of Cork, and from the North Sea gas fields through a sub-sea
interconnector pipeline. Among new pipelines being added is a
major east/west gas pipeline to Galway.


Peat development in Ireland is undertaken by a State enterprise,
B&#243;rd na M&#243;na (Peat Development Board), which has been a world
leader in exploitation techniques. Ireland has one of the world’s
highest levels of peat output.



Top of Page


Mining and Quarrying


Ireland is a leading producer of zinc and lead. There are three
underground mines, Navan, Co. Meath, Lisheen, Co. Tipperary, and
Galmoy, Co. Kilkenny.


The three mines together account for approximately 40% of Western
European zinc metal, and 30% of its lead, all of which is exported
as concentrates. Ireland is also a significant producer of gypsum,
from an open-cast mine at Knocknacran, Co. Monaghan. The gypsum is
used in Ireland’s building industry, with some being exported.


The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is
responsible for policy and regulation of mineral exploration and
mining. The Department is also charged with promotion of
exploration and development of Ireland’s minerals. On a day-to-day
basis, these responsibilities are dealt with by the Department’s
Exploration and Mining Division (EMD). EMD maintain two websites,
one of which is aimed at industry (www.minex.ie) and the other is for the
general public (www.emd.ie).


Ireland also has a significant quarrying industry, producing sand,
gravel and aggregate for the construction sector, and ground
limestone for agriculture. Quarrying is regulated by local
authorities.



Top of Page


Telecommunications


The Communications Regulator (ComReg) is the statutory body
responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications
sector (telecommunications, radio communications and broadcasting
transmission) and the postal sector.


Electronic communications in Ireland are among the most advanced
and sophisticated in Europe. Major providers of telecommunications
services include Eircom, BT, Vodafone, O2, Meteor and 3 Ireland.
Eircom, the principal provider of fixed line telecommunication
services was formerly a State-owned company, Telecom &#201;ireann. In
line with EU policy the telecommunications market in Ireland was
fully liberalised in 1998 and Telecom &#201;ireann was privatised in
1999. The organisation which manages the roll out of broadband on
behalf of the State in Ireland’s regional towns and cities is
E-Net. There is also a State-run telecommunications network, HEAnet
dedicated to linking the third level
institutions.


The Irish Government, by a combination of imaginative legislation,
high-quality infrastructure and favourable tax treatment, is
promoting Ireland as an e-commerce hub. The Electronic
Commerce Act, which came into force in 2000, signalled a flexible
approach to regulation and created equivalence in law between
electronic documents, contracts, signatures and seals and their
paper-based equivalents.


Ireland has major international fibre-optic connectivity. As
part of its policy of regionalisation, the Government has spent €65
million providing high speed broadband connectivity to 26 principal
towns around the country. A further 90+ towns are currently being
prepared for phase two of this project.


The Government is also supportive of the creation of a North/South
digital corridor and the provision of satellite-based broadband
services aimed at remote areas of the country. There is also a
commitment to ensure that every primary and secondary school
in the country will have broadband connectivity.





Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources




Electricity Supply
Board




Bord G&#225;is




Bord na M&#243;na




Sustainable
Energy Ireland




Commission for Energy
Regulation




Commission for
Communications Regulations




E-Net




HEAnet






Top of Page


Newspapers


Newspapers have been published in Ireland for over 300 years. The
main morning daily broadsheet papers are The Irish Independent, The
Irish Times and The Irish Examiner. There are also two
evening newspapers, The Evening Herald and The Evening Echo and six
Sunday newspapers, The Sunday Tribune, The Sunday Independent, The
Sunday World, The Sunday Business Post, Irish Daily Mail on Sunday
and The Star on Sunday. There are two Irish language weekly
newspapers: L&#225; and Foinse.


There are also about 60 local newspapers usually published weekly
and a wide variety of magazines dealing with current affairs,
economic issues and leisure interests. British newspapers and
magazines circulate widely in Ireland and some titles publish
separate Irish editions.


In 2007 the Press Council of Ireland was established by the
Industry itself and in the same year the Government established the
Office of Press Ombudsman. Their main objectives are:


- to provide the public with an independent forum for resolving
complaints against the press;


- to resolve all complaints quickly, amicably and free of charge;


- to maintain the high standards of Irish journalism and
journalistic ethics;


- to defend the freedom of the press and the freedom of the public
to be informed.





The Irish
Times




Irish
Independent




Irish
Examiner




Sunday Business
Post




The Sunday
Times




Sunday
Independent




The Sunday
Tribune




Evening Echo




Foinse




Press Council
of Ireland (and Press Ombudsman)






Top of Page


Radio and Television


The National radio and television service is operated by Radio
Telef&#237;s &#201;ireann (RT&#201;), the public broadcasting company which
transmits on two television and five radio channels. RT&#201; derives
its revenue from licence fees and the sale of advertising time. In
addition to the wide availability of British radio and television
programming, satellite broadcasts are achieving an increasing
audience.


Irish speakers are served by a dedicated radio channel, Radio na
Gaeltachta (operated by RT&#201;) and by TG4, an independent Irish
language television channel.


The Radio and Television Act 1988 established the Broadcasting
Commission of Ireland (formally the Independent Radio and
Television Commission), which has responsibility for licensing and
overseeing the operation of independent radio and television
broadcasting. In recent years, quite a number of independent
regional radio stations and community radio initiatives have
emerged all over the country and have gained a substantial
audience. There are two national independent radio stations,
Today FM and Newstalk, and a national independent commercial
television station, TV3. Both Today FM and TV3 were launched in
1998. Newstalk was launched nationally in September 2006.





Radio Teilif&#237;s
&#201;ireann




TG4




TV3




Today FM




2 FM




Radio 1




Newstalk




Broadcasting
Commission of Ireland (BCI)






Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:09:47 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Irish Citizens Travelling to USA]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71986</link>
					<description><![CDATA[


Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)



Passport Requirements




Changes to Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - Emergency/Temporary
Passports




Electronic System for Travel
Authorization (ESTA)


ESTA is an electronic registration system requiring travellers who
are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to register in advance of
travelling to the USA. Mandatory registrationhas come into
force since 12 January 2009.


Visa Waiver travellers should register through the Department of
Homeland Security website at the following address: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.


Registration is free and may be done by third
parties e.g. travel agencies. Sites requesting payment for
registration should not be used.


ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and
once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until
the applicant's passport expires, whichever comes first.
Authorisations will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. The
Department of Homeland Security recommends that ESTA applications
be submitted at least 72 hours in advance of travel.


An applicant who does not receive authorisation to travel will need
to go to their nearest U.S. Diplomatic or Consular Mission and
apply for a visa.


An ESTA approval does not determine admissibility into the United
States. The final decision for entry to the United States rests
with US immigration authorities at the port of entry.


The ESTA programme does not apply to Irish citizens who are holders
of a visa for the United States.


For more information on ESTA, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/ESTA


Passport Requirements
 

Since 16 June 2005 persons traveling to the United States have been
required to present a machine readable passport to avail of the
U.S. Visa Waiver Programme. Otherwise they must obtain a visa, in
advance, from their nearest U.S. Diplomatic or Consular Mission.


Ireland is one of the countries that can avail of visa waiver
status and has been issuing machine readable passports since 1993.





A machine readable passport has two lines of text in the form
of letters, numbers and chevrons (&amp;lt;&amp;lt;&amp;lt;) at the bottom of
the personal information page.


New passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries after 25
October 2006 must be ePassports, which include an integrated
computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the
data page, as well as other biometric information, such as the
required digital photograph of the holder. Ireland commenced
issuing ePassports on 16 October, 2006.





You can identify an ePassport by the logo at the bottom
of the cover





Machine readable passports issued before 16 October 2006 are
still valid for travel to the US until their date of expiry.


Changes to Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Travel for Bearers of
Emergency/Temporary Passports


Ending the E-Passport Exemption


Passports issued by the Passport Office or by our Missions abroad
in emergency situations are not ePassports. Since the introduction
of the ePassport in 2006 requirement it has been possible for Irish
citizens to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program
using one of these Passports. However, From July 1, 2009 the US
authorities will only permit entry to their territory on an
emergency passport if the traveller has been issued with a
Visa.


Irish Emergency Passport






You can recognise an Irish emergency Passport as it has a green
cover and contains only 8 pages. It is machine readable and has a
digital photograph.


Further information on entry requirements for the US can be found
at http://dublin.usembassy.gov/emergency_temp_ppts.html

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:17:25 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Studying in Ireland - Vietnamese]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=82769</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Gi&#225;o dục ở Ai Len


(Đường link tới c&#225;c trang web v&#224; s&#225;ch điện tử ở phần cuối)


Truyền thống gi&#225;o dục xuất sắc của Ai Len nổi danh tr&#234;n to&#224;n thế
giới. Kể từ thời Trung Cổ, Ai Len – được biết đến l&#224; H&#242;n đảo của
c&#225;c Vị Th&#225;nh v&#224; Học giả - đ&#227; l&#224; nơi cung cấp kiến thức cho phần
lớn thế giới phương t&#226;y: gần đ&#226;y hơn, cả thế giới nghi&#234;n cứu về c&#225;c
nh&#224; văn Ai Len như James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, George
Bernard Shaw v&#224; Oscar Wilde, trong khi việc li&#234;n tục đầu tư v&#224;o
nghi&#234;n cứu v&#224; ph&#225;t triển đ&#227; đặt nước Ai Len hiện đại v&#224;o vị tr&#237;
trung t&#226;m của khoa học v&#224; c&#244;ng nghệ.


C&#225;c ch&#237;nh phủ hiện đại của Ai Len coi gi&#225;o dục l&#224; một ưu ti&#234;n chủ
chốt v&#224; ng&#224;y nay, Ai Len c&#243; tỷ lệ học vấn cao nhất thế giới, với
gần nửa số thanh ni&#234;n học đại học. C&#225;c trường đại học, Cao đẳng v&#224;
Viện C&#244;ng nghệ của Ai Len nổi tiếng thế giới với tr&#236;nh độ học thuật
cao, trong khi nhiều trường dạy tiếng Anh c&#243; danh tiếng vững chắc
về chất lượng đ&#224;o tạo.


Ai Len cũng l&#224; nơi sinh sống v&#244; c&#249;ng hấp dẫn, với người d&#226;n hiếu
kh&#225;ch v&#224; rất nhiều hoạt động văn h&#243;a thể thao. Năm 2007, sinh vi&#234;n
từ 142 quốc gia theo học đại học ở Ai Len, v&#224; 140.000 học sinh học
tiếng Anh tại đ&#226;y. Kinh nghiệm quốc tế, c&#249;ng với mối quan hệ văn
h&#243;a với thế giới n&#243;i tiếng Anh, việc đầu tư chuy&#234;n s&#226;u v&#224;o nghi&#234;n
cứu v&#224; ph&#225;t triển, v&#224; mối li&#234;n hệ vững chắc với ng&#224;nh c&#244;ng nghiệp,
đ&#243;ng vai tr&#242; trung t&#226;m trong sự ph&#225;t triển của Ai Len như một x&#227;
hội kiến thức trong nền kinh tế to&#224;n cầu mới.


Cơ quan Gi&#225;o dục Ai Len


Cơ quan Gi&#225;o dục Ai Len được ch&#237;nh thức th&#224;nh lập để cung
cấp th&#244;ng tin về Ai Len như một trung t&#226;m gi&#225;o dục quốc tế. Trang
web của cơ quan n&#224;y (www.educationireland.ie) l&#224;
đầu mối li&#234;n hệ để c&#243; th&#244;ng tin về c&#225;c chương tr&#236;nh hiện c&#243; ở c&#225;c
trường Đại học, Viện C&#244;ng nghệ v&#224; c&#225;c trường Đại học tư, v&#224; cung
cấp kết nối đến c&#225;c trang web gi&#225;o dục kh&#225;c của Ai Len.


Hệ thống Gi&#225;o dục Ai Len


Ở Ai Len, gi&#225;o dục mang t&#237;nh bắt buộc với người từ 6 đến 16 tuổi,
hoặc cho tới khi học sinh học xong ba năm trung học. Tuy nhi&#234;n, hầu
hết trẻ em bắt đầu học tiểu học l&#250;c 4 tuổi. Ai Len c&#243; hơn
3.200 trường tiểu học, hầu hết được t&#224;i trợ từ Nh&#224; nước, v&#224; được
địa phương đ&#243;ng g&#243;p hỗ trợ. Bậc trung học bao gồm 750 trường
trung học, trường dạy nghề, trường cộng đồng v&#224; trường phổ th&#244;ng
hỗn hợp. Gần 60% học sinh học trong c&#225;c trường trung học; 26% học
trong c&#225;c trường dạy nghề; v&#224; 14% đi học ở trường cộng đồng v&#224;
trường phổ th&#244;ng hỗn hợp. Gi&#225;o dục bậc trung học bao gồm ba năm học
cấp trung học cơ sở v&#224; sau đ&#243; l&#224; hai hoặc ba năm học cấp trung học
phổ th&#244;ng. Ở cấp trung học phổ th&#244;ng, học sinh c&#243; thể chọn Chương
tr&#236;nh Năm Chuyển tiếp. Trong hai năm cuối của cấp trung học phổ
th&#244;ng, học sinh c&#243; thể lấy Bằng Tốt nghiệp ch&#237;nh thức; Bằng Tốt
nghiệp Chương tr&#236;nh Hướng nghiệp hoặc Bằng Tốt nghiệp Ứng dụng.


Gi&#225;o dục Đại học


Hệ thống gi&#225;o dục đại học ở Ai Len c&#243; quy m&#244; lớn v&#224; bao gồm c&#225;c
trường đại học, nh&#243;m c&#244;ng nghệ, c&#225;c trường sư phạm v&#224; c&#225;c trường tư
độc lập. C&#225;c tổ chức trong ba nh&#243;m đầu ti&#234;n đều c&#243; quyền tự trị v&#224;
tự quản, nhưng thực chất được nh&#224; nước t&#224;i trợ.


Trường Đại học ở Ai Len


Bảy trường đại học ở Cộng h&#242;a Ai Len c&#243; chương tr&#236;nh đ&#224;o tạo ti&#234;n
tiến th&#244;ng qua một loạt chương tr&#236;nh Cử nh&#226;n, Thạc sỹ v&#224; Tiến sỹ.
C&#225;c trường đại học n&#224;y l&#224; điểm đến hấp dẫn với sinh vi&#234;n Ai Len,
ch&#226;u &#194;u v&#224; quốc tế, phản &#225;nh sự kết hợp ri&#234;ng c&#243; giữa một nền gi&#225;o
dục chất lượng v&#224; kinh nghiệm văn h&#243;a th&#250; vị. C&#225;c trường đại học Ai
Len h&#242;a nhập s&#226;u v&#224;o cuộc sống của th&#224;nh phố v&#224; khu vực, với c&#225;c
cộng đồng sinh vi&#234;n v&#224; cuộc sống x&#227; hội s&#244;i nổi. 


Khoản đầu tư đ&#225;ng kể của ch&#237;nh phủ v&#224;o nghi&#234;n cứu v&#224; ph&#225;t triển
khiến c&#225;c trường Đại học Ai Len trở th&#224;nh điểm đến v&#244; c&#249;ng hấp dẫn
với c&#225;c nh&#224; nghi&#234;n cứu v&#224; học giả trẻ. C&#225;c trường Đại học đ&#243;ng vai
tr&#242; trung t&#226;m trong việc đảm bảo Ai Len tiếp tục tiến bộ v&#224; trở
th&#224;nh một x&#227; hội kiến thức ti&#234;n tiến. Việc nhận ng&#226;n s&#225;ch từ Quỹ
Đổi mới Chiến lược của Ch&#237;nh phủ l&#224; cơ sở cho hoạt động nghi&#234;n cứu
v&#224; đầu ra l&#224; những người c&#243; bằng tiến sỹ v&#224; sau tiến sỹ với kỹ năng
rất tốt. C&#225;c trường Đại học c&#243; thủ tục đảm bảo chất lượng khắt khe
với c&#225;c ti&#234;u chuẩn quốc tế cao nhất.


Viện C&#244;ng nghệ ở Ai Len


14 Viện C&#244;ng nghệ ở Cộng h&#242;a Ai Len c&#243; chương tr&#236;nh từ bậc 6 đến
bậc 10 trong Khung Văn bằng Quốc gia. C&#225;c chương tr&#236;nh n&#224;y
bao gồm chương tr&#236;nh đại học với bằng tốt nghiệp đại học, bằng Cử
nh&#226;n Th&#244;ng thường, bằng Cử nh&#226;n Danh dự v&#224; bằng sau đại học, th&#244;ng
qua việc nghe giảng v&#224; nghi&#234;n cứu, dẫn tới bằng Thạc sỹ v&#224; Tiến sỹ,
trong rất nhiều ng&#224;nh. Hầu hết c&#225;c Viện C&#244;ng nghệ đều c&#243; khoa Khoa
học, Cơ kh&#237; &amp;amp; C&#244;ng nghệ, v&#224; Kinh doanh. Ngo&#224;i ra, nhiều Viện đ&#227;
ph&#225;t triển c&#225;c chương tr&#236;nh đặc biệt ở những lĩnh vực như Nh&#226;n văn
&amp;amp; Ng&#244;n ngữ; Nghi&#234;n cứu Trợ y v&#224; Y tế; Nghệ thuật &amp;amp; Thiết
kế; v&#224; Du lịch. C&#225;c thủ tụch đảm bảo chất lượng của mỗi Viện đều do
Hội đồng Gi&#225;o dục
Đ&#224;o tạo Bậc cao (HETAC) ph&#234; duyệt. Bằng cấp của HETAC được c&#225;c
tổ chức học thuật; nghề nghiệp; thương mại; v&#224; thủ c&#244;ng tr&#234;n to&#224;n
thế giới c&#244;ng nhận.


Trường Đại học Gi&#225;o dục Tư


Nhiều trường đại học gi&#225;o dục tư chủ yếu tham gia v&#224;o việc đ&#224;o tạo
gi&#225;o dục chuy&#234;n nghiệp v&#224; kinh doanh. C&#225;c kh&#243;a học bao gồm: Kế to&#225;n
v&#224; Kinh doanh; Luật; Nh&#226;n văn; Kh&#225;ch sạn v&#224; Dịch vụ; Du lịch; v&#224;
Nghệ thuật. Nhiều chương tr&#236;nh của những trường n&#224;y được Hội đồng
Gi&#225;o dục Đ&#224;o tạo Bậc cao (HETAC) c&#244;ng nhận gi&#225; trị v&#224; một số chương tr&#236;nh c&#243;
li&#234;n kết với c&#225;c trường Đại học v&#224;/hoặc hiệp hội nghề nghiệp qua đ&#243;
những kh&#243;a học n&#224;y được ch&#237;nh thức c&#244;ng nhận.


Gi&#225;o dục sau Đại học


C&#225;c Viện Gi&#225;o dục sau Đại học (HEI) đ&#243;ng vai tr&#242; quan trọng trong
nền gi&#225;o dục sau đại học ở Ai Len. Nghi&#234;n cứu do HEI tiến h&#224;nh nhận
rất nhiều t&#224;i trợ t&#224;i ch&#237;nh từ Chương tr&#236;nh d&#224;nh cho Nghi&#234;n cứu
trong c&#225;c trường Đại học (PRTLI) của Cơ quan Gi&#225;o dục Sau đại học. Chiến
lược Khoa học, C&#244;ng nghệ v&#224; Đổi mới năm 2006 của Ch&#237;nh phủ đặt
ra tầm nh&#236;n v&#224; lộ tr&#236;nh cho ph&#225;t triển h&#224;i h&#242;a giữa nghi&#234;n cứu,
ph&#225;t triển c&#244;ng nghệ v&#224; đổi mới. Hỗ trợ nghi&#234;n cứu của ch&#237;nh phủ
tiếp tục tăng trong Kế hoạch Ph&#225;t triển Quốc gia 2007-2013.


Học tiếng Anh


Ai Len c&#243; tiếng về chất lượng dịch vụ tiếng Anh tốt. Cơ quan đảm
bảo chất lượng cho khu vực n&#224;y ở Ai Len l&#224; Ủy ban Tư vấn Trường
dạy tiếng Anh (ACELS), cơ quan quản l&#253; cơ chế thanh tra, được
Bộ Gi&#225;o dục v&#224;
Khoa học c&#244;ng nhận. Danh s&#225;ch hơn 110 trường v&#224; tổ chức được
c&#244;ng nhận v&#224; đảm bảo chất lượng (ELTOS) được đăng tải tr&#234;n
   website của
   ACELS. C&#225;c trường v&#224; tổ chức n&#224;y c&#243; rất nhiều kh&#243;a học, v&#224;
   nh&#236;n chung cung cấp cả g&#243;i học ph&#237;, nơi ở v&#224; c&#225;c hoạt động ngoại
   kh&#243;a. Đ&#224;o tạo tiếng Anh c&#242;n c&#243; thể được kết hợp với c&#225;c hoạt
   động thể thao như c&#226;u c&#225;, đ&#225;nh g&#244;n hay quần vợt. C&#225;c hoạt động
   quảng b&#225; của khu vực dạy tiếng Anh được F&#225;ilte Irelandhỗ trợ.


Kết nối



Trang web của Cơ quan Gi&#225;o dục Ai Len l&#224; đầu mối trung t&#226;m
th&#244;ng tin về gi&#225;o dục Ai Len v&#224; chương tr&#236;nh trong c&#225;c trường Đại
học Ai Len. Trang web n&#224;y cung cấp th&#244;ng tin đầy đủ cập nhật về c&#225;c
kh&#243;a học; học bổng; đến Ai Len; v&#224; học tiếng Anh tại Ai Len
(www.educationireland.ie).


Cơ quan Văn bằng Quốc
gia Ai Len (NQAI) l&#224; trung t&#226;m c&#244;ng nhận bằng cấp quốc tế của
Ai Len. Nếu bạn đ&#227; c&#243; bằng cấp kh&#244;ng phải của Ai Len, bạn c&#243; thể
muốn tấm bằng của m&#236;nh được đ&#225;nh gi&#225; để t&#236;m việc hoặc học th&#234;m ở Ai
Len www.qualificationsrecognition.ie).


Qualifax l&#224;
Cơ sở dữ liệu Quốc gia d&#224;nh cho Học vi&#234;n. Đ&#226;y l&#224; “trung t&#226;m c&#244;ng
cấp th&#244;ng tin một cửa” cho học vi&#234;n. Qualifax cung cấp th&#244;ng tin
đầy đủ nhất về gi&#225;o dục sau đại học v&#224; c&#225;c kh&#243;a đ&#224;o tạo ở Ai Len
(www.qualifax.ie).


Khung Văn bằng Quốc
gia (NFQ) cung cấp c&#225;ch thức so s&#225;nh bằng cấp, v&#224; đảm bảo bằng
cấp được đảm bảo chất lượng v&#224; c&#244;ng nhận ở trong nước cũng như nước
ngo&#224;i. Sinh vi&#234;n được khuyến kh&#237;ch sử dụng NFQ để x&#225;c định bằng cấp
họ sẽ c&#243; trước khi đưa ra quyết định. Bằng cấp được c&#244;ng nhận th&#244;ng
qua NFQ được đảm bảo chất lượng: điều đ&#243; c&#243; nghĩa kh&#243;a học của bạn,
v&#224; nơi bạn học, được xem x&#233;t một c&#225;ch đều đặn www.nfq.ie.


Hội đồng Gi&#225;o dục
Đ&#224;o tạo Bậc cao (HETAC) ph&#225;t triển, th&#250;c đẩy v&#224; duy tr&#236; học
bổng đ&#224;o tạo v&#224; gi&#225;o dục sau đại học ở ti&#234;u chuẩn v&#224; chất lượng
quốc tế cao nhất (www.hetac.ie).


Irish
Council for International Students (ICOS) th&#250;c đẩy ph&#250;c lợi
chung của sinh vi&#234;n quốc tế (www.icosirl.ie).


Hiệp hội c&#225;c trường
Đại học Ai Len (IUA) l&#224; cơ quan đại diện của 7 trường Đại học
Ai Len (www.iua.ie).


Institutes Viện C&#244;ng
nghệ Ai Len (IOTI) l&#224; cơ quan đại diện của 13 viện c&#244;ng nghệ Ai
Len (www.ioti.ie).


Hiệp hội c&#225;c trường Đại học Gi&#225;o dục (HECA) l&#224; hiệp hội tự
quy định của c&#225;c trường tư được th&#224;nh lập v&#224;o năm 1991 đại diện cho
lợi &#237;ch của c&#225;c trường th&#224;nh vi&#234;n v&#224; sinh vi&#234;n của họ (www.heca.ie).


Hội đồng Tư vấn cho
c&#225;c Trường tiếng Anh (ACELS) l&#224; cơ quan đảm bảo chất lượng việc
dạy tiếng Anh ở Ai Len. ACELS gi&#225;m s&#225;t cơ chế thanh tra/c&#244;ng nhận
dẫn đến sự c&#244;ng nhận của Bộ Gi&#225;o dục v&#224; Khoa học (www.acels.ie).


F&#225;ilte Ireland quảng b&#225; c&#225;c trường tiếng
    Anh (www.failteireland.ie).


Trang web
T&#224;i ch&#237;nh Sinh vi&#234;n l&#224; một nguồn th&#244;ng tin thuận tiện v&#224; th&#226;n
thiện với người sử dụng về hỗ trợ t&#224;i ch&#237;nh để tiếp tục học v&#224; học
sau đại học ở Ai Len (www.studentfinance.ie).


]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:11:38 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=78296</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled 
Ireland in Brief, provides a general overview of Ireland's
political, economic and cultural life. While it is not
possible to include every aspect of life in Ireland in this short
publication, we hope that you will discover a little about Ireland
and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:49:05 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=78337</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled 
Ireland in Brief, provides a general overview of Ireland's
political, economic and cultural life. While it is not
possible to include every aspect of life in Ireland in this short
publication, we hope that you will discover a little about Ireland
and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:49:05 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Vietnam]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=71969</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
WELCOME!



English

Vietnamese


Welcome by the Ambassador of Ireland to
Vietnam, Maeve Collins


Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Ireland to Vietnam. Since
the Embassy opened in 2005, links between Ireland and Vietnam have
gone from strength to strength. The Embassy also represents Ireland
in Cambodia and in Lao PDR, and, while we are based in Hanoi, we
are here to develop and promote good relations between Ireland and
each of these countries, and to assist Irish citizens visiting or
residing in any of these countries.


Ireland established a bilateral aid programme in Vietnam in 2005,
with the goal of supporting the equitable reduction of poverty and
vulnerability in Vietnam. We expect to deliver €87.5 million in
bilateral support for the period 2007 – 2010. Initial work has
begun on providing assistance in Lao PDR and Cambodia. The
Embassy has responsibility for the implementation of the Irish Aid
programme in South East Asia.


This website has been designed with the needs of our many clients
in mind: whether you are an Irish tourist planning a holiday, an
Irish business person considering an opportunity in Vietnam, or an
Irish visitor in need of consular assistance, we hope you will find
this website of assistance. We also intend this website to be
a resource to Vietnamese nationals who wish to visit Ireland and
require a visa, or who are considering doing business in Ireland,
or who simply want to find out more about Ireland or our aid
programme in Vietnam.


Finally, I would encourage all Irish visitors to Vietnam, Lao PDR
and Cambodia to use our on-line
registration facility to register with the Embassy for the
duration of your visit here. This will make it much easier
for us to assist you in the event of an emergency at home or in the
vicinity during your stay.


Le gach dea-ghu&#237;


Maeve Collins
Ambassador of Ireland





Lời ch&#224;o của Đại sứ Ai Len tại Việt Nam,
Maeve Collins


Ch&#224;o mừng qu&#253; vị tới trang web của Đại sứ qu&#225;n Ai Len tại Việt Nam.
Kể từ khi mở cửa Đại sứ qu&#225;n năm 2005, mối quan hệ Ai Len – Việt
Nam ng&#224;y c&#224;ng ph&#225;t triển. Đại sứ qu&#225;n cũng đại diện Ai Len ở
Campuchia v&#224; CHDCND L&#224;o. Từ H&#224; Nội, ch&#250;ng t&#244;i ph&#225;t triển, th&#250;c đẩy
mối quan hệ tốt đẹp giữa Ai Len với Việt Nam, L&#224;o, Campuchia. Đồng
thời, Đại sứ qu&#225;n c&#242;n gi&#250;p đỡ c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len du lịch hoặc lưu tr&#250;
ở 3 nước n&#224;y.


Ai Len thiết lập chương tr&#236;nh viện trợ song phương tại Việt Nam năm
2005, với mục ti&#234;u hỗ trợ giảm ngh&#232;o v&#224; t&#237;nh dễ tổn thương một c&#225;ch
c&#244;ng bằng tại Việt Nam. Ch&#250;ng t&#244;i dự định viện trợ song phương 87,5
triệu euro trong giai đoạn 2007-2010. C&#244;ng t&#225;c chuẩn bị viện trợ
cho L&#224;o v&#224; Campuchia đ&#227; bắt đầu. Đại sứ qu&#225;n chịu tr&#225;ch nhiệm thực
hiện chương tr&#236;nh của Irish Aid (Cơ quan Viện trợ Ai Len) ở Đ&#244;ng
Nam &#193;.


Trang web n&#224;y được thiết kế nhằm phục vụ nhiều đối tượng: d&#249; qu&#253; vị
l&#224; kh&#225;ch du lịch Ai Len dự định đi nghỉ, doanh nh&#226;n Ai Len xem x&#233;t
cơ hội l&#224;m ăn tại Việt Nam, hay c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len cần trợ gi&#250;p l&#227;nh
sự, ch&#250;ng t&#244;i hy vọng trang web n&#224;y sẽ gi&#250;p &#237;ch qu&#253; vị. Ch&#250;ng t&#244;i
cũng mong muốn trang web n&#224;y l&#224; nguồn th&#244;ng tin cho c&#244;ng d&#226;n Việt
Nam muốn sang Ai Len v&#224; xin visa, hay những người đang t&#237;nh chuyện
l&#224;m ăn tại Ai Len, hoặc đơn giản l&#224; muốn t&#236;m hiểu hơn nữa về Ai Len
hay chương tr&#236;nh viện trợ của ch&#250;ng t&#244;i tại Việt Nam.


Cuối c&#249;ng, t&#244;i mong tất cả c&#225;c c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len tới Việt Nam, L&#224;o v&#224;
Campuchia sẽ sử dụng cơ chế đăng k&#253; trực tuyến để đăng k&#253; thời gian
qu&#253; vị lưu lại đ&#226;y. Việc l&#224;m n&#224;y sẽ gi&#250;p ch&#250;ng t&#244;i dễ d&#224;ng gi&#250;p đỡ
qu&#253; vị hơn trong trường hợp khẩn cấp tại nh&#224; hoặc khu vực phụ cận
trong thời gian qu&#253; vị ở Việt Nam, L&#224;o v&#224; Campuchia.


Tr&#226;n trọng


Maeve Collins


Đại sứ Ai Len





EU concern about the arrest of Mr Nguyen Tien Trung and Mr
Tran Anh Kim

The EU-troika (the Ambassadors of Sweden, Spain and the European
Commission) conveyed the EU member states' grave concern to the
Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 14 July, 2009 about the
arrest 7 July, 2009 of Mr Nguyen Tien Trung and Mr Tran Anh Kim. Mr
Trung and Mr Kim were arrested according to Article 88 of the Penal
Code for having conducted anti-state activities and propaganda
against Vietnam.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:13:23 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Travel Advice]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=72045</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
WELCOME!



English

Vietnamese


Welcome by the Ambassador of Ireland to
Vietnam, Maeve Collins


Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Ireland to Vietnam. Since
the Embassy opened in 2005, links between Ireland and Vietnam have
gone from strength to strength. The Embassy also represents Ireland
in Cambodia and in Lao PDR, and, while we are based in Hanoi, we
are here to develop and promote good relations between Ireland and
each of these countries, and to assist Irish citizens visiting or
residing in any of these countries.


Ireland established a bilateral aid programme in Vietnam in 2005,
with the goal of supporting the equitable reduction of poverty and
vulnerability in Vietnam. We expect to deliver €87.5 million in
bilateral support for the period 2007 – 2010. Initial work has
begun on providing assistance in Lao PDR and Cambodia. The
Embassy has responsibility for the implementation of the Irish Aid
programme in South East Asia.


This website has been designed with the needs of our many clients
in mind: whether you are an Irish tourist planning a holiday, an
Irish business person considering an opportunity in Vietnam, or an
Irish visitor in need of consular assistance, we hope you will find
this website of assistance. We also intend this website to be
a resource to Vietnamese nationals who wish to visit Ireland and
require a visa, or who are considering doing business in Ireland,
or who simply want to find out more about Ireland or our aid
programme in Vietnam.


Finally, I would encourage all Irish visitors to Vietnam, Lao PDR
and Cambodia to use our on-line
registration facility to register with the Embassy for the
duration of your visit here. This will make it much easier
for us to assist you in the event of an emergency at home or in the
vicinity during your stay.


Le gach dea-ghu&#237;


Maeve Collins
Ambassador of Ireland





Lời ch&#224;o của Đại sứ Ai Len tại Việt Nam,
Maeve Collins


Ch&#224;o mừng qu&#253; vị tới trang web của Đại sứ qu&#225;n Ai Len tại Việt Nam.
Kể từ khi mở cửa Đại sứ qu&#225;n năm 2005, mối quan hệ Ai Len – Việt
Nam ng&#224;y c&#224;ng ph&#225;t triển. Đại sứ qu&#225;n cũng đại diện Ai Len ở
Campuchia v&#224; CHDCND L&#224;o. Từ H&#224; Nội, ch&#250;ng t&#244;i ph&#225;t triển, th&#250;c đẩy
mối quan hệ tốt đẹp giữa Ai Len với Việt Nam, L&#224;o, Campuchia. Đồng
thời, Đại sứ qu&#225;n c&#242;n gi&#250;p đỡ c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len du lịch hoặc lưu tr&#250;
ở 3 nước n&#224;y.


Ai Len thiết lập chương tr&#236;nh viện trợ song phương tại Việt Nam năm
2005, với mục ti&#234;u hỗ trợ giảm ngh&#232;o v&#224; t&#237;nh dễ tổn thương một c&#225;ch
c&#244;ng bằng tại Việt Nam. Ch&#250;ng t&#244;i dự định viện trợ song phương 87,5
triệu euro trong giai đoạn 2007-2010. C&#244;ng t&#225;c chuẩn bị viện trợ
cho L&#224;o v&#224; Campuchia đ&#227; bắt đầu. Đại sứ qu&#225;n chịu tr&#225;ch nhiệm thực
hiện chương tr&#236;nh của Irish Aid (Cơ quan Viện trợ Ai Len) ở Đ&#244;ng
Nam &#193;.


Trang web n&#224;y được thiết kế nhằm phục vụ nhiều đối tượng: d&#249; qu&#253; vị
l&#224; kh&#225;ch du lịch Ai Len dự định đi nghỉ, doanh nh&#226;n Ai Len xem x&#233;t
cơ hội l&#224;m ăn tại Việt Nam, hay c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len cần trợ gi&#250;p l&#227;nh
sự, ch&#250;ng t&#244;i hy vọng trang web n&#224;y sẽ gi&#250;p &#237;ch qu&#253; vị. Ch&#250;ng t&#244;i
cũng mong muốn trang web n&#224;y l&#224; nguồn th&#244;ng tin cho c&#244;ng d&#226;n Việt
Nam muốn sang Ai Len v&#224; xin visa, hay những người đang t&#237;nh chuyện
l&#224;m ăn tại Ai Len, hoặc đơn giản l&#224; muốn t&#236;m hiểu hơn nữa về Ai Len
hay chương tr&#236;nh viện trợ của ch&#250;ng t&#244;i tại Việt Nam.


Cuối c&#249;ng, t&#244;i mong tất cả c&#225;c c&#244;ng d&#226;n Ai Len tới Việt Nam, L&#224;o v&#224;
Campuchia sẽ sử dụng cơ chế đăng k&#253; trực tuyến để đăng k&#253; thời gian
qu&#253; vị lưu lại đ&#226;y. Việc l&#224;m n&#224;y sẽ gi&#250;p ch&#250;ng t&#244;i dễ d&#224;ng gi&#250;p đỡ
qu&#253; vị hơn trong trường hợp khẩn cấp tại nh&#224; hoặc khu vực phụ cận
trong thời gian qu&#253; vị ở Việt Nam, L&#224;o v&#224; Campuchia.


Tr&#226;n trọng


Maeve Collins


Đại sứ Ai Len





EU concern about the arrest of Mr Nguyen Tien Trung and Mr
Tran Anh Kim

The EU-troika (the Ambassadors of Sweden, Spain and the European
Commission) conveyed the EU member states' grave concern to the
Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 14 July, 2009 about the
arrest 7 July, 2009 of Mr Nguyen Tien Trung and Mr Tran Anh Kim. Mr
Trung and Mr Kim were arrested according to Article 88 of the Penal
Code for having conducted anti-state activities and propaganda
against Vietnam.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:13:23 UTC</pubDate>
		
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				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Studying in Ireland]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=82388</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Ireland’s traditional reputation for educational excellence is
recognised the world over. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Ireland
– known as the Island of Saints and Scholars -provided education to
much of the western world: more recently, Irish writers such as
James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and
Oscar Wilde, are studied around the world, while ongoing investment
in research and development has placed modern Ireland at the
cutting edge of science and technology.


Successive modern governments in Ireland have regarded education as
a key priority and today Ireland has one of the highest education
participation rates in the world, with almost half of young people
entering third-level education. Irish Universities, Colleges and
Institutes of Technology are acclaimed internationally for their
high academic standards, while the many established English
language schools have a well-founded reputation for quality.


Ireland is also a uniquely attractive place to live, with friendly
people and a wide range of cultural and sporting activities. In
2007, students from 142 countries pursued courses in Higher
Education in Ireland, with another 140,000 studying English here.
This international experience, together with its cultural links to
the English-speaking world, its intensive investment in research
and development, and its strong connections to industry, has been
central to Ireland’s development as a knowledge society in the new
global economy.




Education Ireland



The Irish Education System



Third Level Education



Irish Universities



Institutes of Technology in Ireland



Private Higher Education Colleges



Fourth Level Education



English Language Sector



Useful Links






Education Ireland


Education Ireland was formally established to provide information
about Ireland as a centre for international education. Its website
(www.educationireland.ie) acts
as a central contact point for information about programmes
available in Irish Universities, Institutes of Technology and
private Colleges, and provides comprehensive links to other Irish
education websites.


Back


The Irish Education System


Education in Ireland is compulsory from age 6 to 16, or until
students have completed three years of secondary education.
However, most children start in primary education at the age of 4.
There are over 3,200 primary schools in Ireland, most of which
receive capital funding from the State, supplemented by local
contributions. The second-level sector comprises over 750
secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools.
Almost 60% of students attend secondary schools; 26% attend
vocational schools; and 14% attend community and comprehensive
schools. Second-level education consists of a three-year Junior
Cycle followed by a two or three-year Senior Cycle. In the Senior
Cycle, there is an optional Transition Year Programme. During the
final two years of Senior Cycle, students take either the
established Leaving Certificate; the Leaving Certificate Vocational
Programme or the Leaving Certificate Applied.


Back


Third Level Education


The higher education system in Ireland is broad in scope and
encompasses the university sector, the technological sector, the
colleges of education and private independent colleges. The
institutions within the first three groupings are autonomous and
self-governing, but are substantially state funded.


Back


Irish Universities


The seven Universities in the Republic of Ireland offer
state-of-the-art training through a broad range of Bachelors,
Masters and PhD programmes. These Universities are attractive
destinations for Irish, European and international students,
reflecting the unique combination of a quality education and an
exciting cultural experience. Irish Universities are fully
integrated into the life of their cities and regions, with vibrant
student communities and social life.


Significant government investment in research and development makes
the Irish Universities an especially attractive destination for
young researchers and scholars. The Universities play a central
role in ensuring that Ireland continues to advance and becomes a
fully-fledged knowledge society. The receipt of significant funding
through the Government's Strategic Innovation Fund underpins their
performance in research and the output of highly-skilled graduates
with doctoral qualifications and post-doctoral experience. The
Universities have rigorous quality assurance procedures which
adhere to the highest international standards.



Back


Institutes of Technology in Ireland


The 14 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) in the Republic of Ireland
offer programmes at levels 6 to 10 of the National Framework of
Qualifications.These include undergraduate programmes
leading to higher certificate awards, Ordinary Bachelors degrees,
Honours Bachelors degrees and post-graduate awards, both taught and
by research, leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees, in a wide
variety of subjects. Most have schools of Science, Engineering
&amp;amp; Technology, and Business. In addition, many of the Institutes
have developed special programmes in areas such as Humanities &amp;amp;
Languages; Paramedical Studies and Healthcare; Art &amp;amp; Design;
and Tourism. The quality assurance procedures of each Institute are
approved by the Higher Education and Training Award Council (HETAC).
The qualifications awarded byHETAC are internationally
recognised by academic; professional; trade; and craft bodies.



Back


Private Higher Education Colleges


The various private independent colleges are mainly involved in
providing business and professional educational training. Courses
on offer include: Accountancy and Business Studies; Law;
Humanities; Hotel and Catering; Tourism Studies; and Art. Many of
the programmes offered by these colleges are validated by the
Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and some have
links with Universities and/or professional associations through
which the offered courses are accredited.



Back


Fourth Level Education


Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a critical role to play
in ‘Fourth Level' or post-graduate education in Ireland.
Significant funding is provided for research being carried out in
the HEIs, much of it coming through the Higher Education
Authority’s Programme for Research in Third Level
Institutions (PRTLI), and major research initiatives funded by
Science Foundation
Ireland. The Government’s 2006 Strategy for Science, Technology
and Innovation sets out a vision and roadmap for the coherent
development of research, technological development and innovation.
Government research support continues to increase under the
National Development Plan, 2007-2013.



Back


English Language Sector


Ireland has a well-founded reputation for the excellent quality of
its English language services. The quality assurance body for the
sector in Ireland is the Advisory Council for English Language
Schools (ACELS) which administers an inspection scheme, leading to
recognition by the Department of Education and Science . A full list of
the over 110 quality-assured and recognised schools and
organisations (ELTOS) is available on the ACELS website.
These offer a wide variety of courses, and generally provide a full
package of tuition, accommodation and extra-curricular activities.
English language training can also be combined with sporting
activities such as angling, golf or tennis. The English language
sector is supported in its promotional activities by F&#225;ilte Ireland.



Back


Useful Links


The Education Ireland website acts as a central point of
contact for information on Irish education and on programmes
available in Irish Universities and colleges. It provides
up-to-date comprehensive information on courses;scholarships;
coming to Ireland; and learning English in Ireland (www.educationireland.ie).


The National
Qualifications of Ireland (NQAI) is the Irish centre for the
recognition of international qualifications. If you have completed
a qualification outside Ireland, you may wish to have it assessed
in order to gain employment or undertake further studies in Ireland
(www.qualificationsrecognition.ie).


Qualifax is
Ireland's National Learners' Database. It is the &quot;one stop shop&quot;
for learners. Qualifax provides the most comprehensive information
on further and higher education and training courses in Ireland
(www.qualifax.ie).


The National Framework
of Qualifications (NFQ) provides a way to compare
qualifications, and to ensure that they are quality-assured and
recognised at home and abroad. Students are encouraged to use the
NFQ to identify the qualification they will achieve before making
decisions. Qualifications recognised through the NFQ are
quality-assured: this means that your course, and the institution
at which you study, are reviewed on an ongoing basis www.nfq.ie).


The Higher Education
and Training Awards Council (HETAC) develops, promotes and
maintains higher education and training awards to the highest
international standards and quality (www.hetac.ie).


The Irish
Council for International Students (ICOS) promotes the general
welfare of international students (www.icosirl.ie).


The Irish Universities
Assocation (IUA) is the representative body for the seven Irish
Universities (www.iua.ie).


The Institutes of
Technology of Ireland (IOTI) is the representative body for the
thirteen Irish institutes of technology (www.ioti.ie).


The Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA) is a
self-regulating association of independent third level colleges
formed in 1991 to represent the interests of its member colleges
and their students (www.heca.ie).


The Advisory Council
for English Language Schools (ACELS) is the quality assurance
body for English language teaching in Ireland. ACELS administers an
inspection/recognition scheme leading to recognition by the
Department of Education and Science (www.acels.ie).


F&#225;ilte Ireland promotes the English language
   schools (www.failteireland.ie).


The Student
Finance website is a convenient and user-friendly source of
information on financial support for further and higher education
in Ireland (www.studentfinance.ie).



Back

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:37:23 UTC</pubDate>
		
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					<title><![CDATA[Application Form]]></title>
					<link>http://192.168.99.95/home/index.aspx?id=75007</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION FORM ON-LINE


A new visa system is now operating at this Mission. The new system
includes the facility for applicants to complete their application
form on-line.


To launch an on-line application please click here.


Applicants are reminded that completing the on-line application
form is only the first step in the visa application process. An
application can only be processed when the on-line form is
completed AND the required backing documentation, passport
photograph and appropriate fee are received by the relevant
office as indicated by the on-line system.


It is no longer possible to apply using a downloaded/paper
application form.


INFORMATION NOTE TO ASSIST APPLICANTS


An information note has been prepared to assist applicants. This is
available in English, and also in Arabic,Chinese, French, Russian,Turkishand Urdu.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:32:05 UTC</pubDate>
		
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