Travel Insurance Ireland

Business Practices

Business people should wear formal clothes for meetings but in general, Irish business executives are less formal than their European counterparts and the use of first names at an early stage of a business relationship is acceptable. Friendship and mutual trust are highly valued and once an American has earned this trust, a productive working relationship can usually be expected. However, it is advisable to make prior appointments and to allow enough time to complete business matters. Office hours are generally 0900-1700, Monday-Friday.

Crime

While Ireland has a low rate of violent crime, there is a high incidence of petty crime, mostly theft, burglary, and purse snatching, and tourists are particular targets. Thieves also target rental cars. Do not leave anything in your vehicle, especially in the city but also in remote areas. Anything in plain view is an easy target for criminals. Remove radios from vehicles when parked. If valuables must remain in vehicles, they should be placed in the trunk before the vehicle is parked. Many criminals watch unsuspecting tourists place their valuables in the trunk after they park their vehicle. In the cities, do not carry your wallet in your back pocket. Carry purses, with secured flaps, in front of you and hold it close to your body. In restaurants, do not place your purse on the floor between your feet. Also, do not leave your purse hanging on the back of your chair while you are eating. In hotels, do not leave valuables in your room. Use safe deposit boxes for cash, jewelry, and other valuables provided by most reputable hotels. Travel in groups while in the cities, stay in well-lit areas at night and be familiar with your surroundings.

Hotels

Ireland has a diverse range of accommodations from world class hotels to the more individualized and economical bed and breakfast guesthouses. In view of the large number of visitors going to Ireland, business travelers are advised to make their hotel reservations well in advance, especially during the summer months, in order to assure the needed accommodations.

Communications

Telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 353 followed by the area code, omitting the initial zero. An investment of over $3 billion has provided Ireland with a sophisticated digital telecommunications system which includes a direct dialing telephone service connecting every part of Ireland with over 90 percent of the rest of the world. There are over one million telephone lines on the public network and the current level of digitalization is 70 percent. Telecom Eireann (TE), Ireland's telecommunications utility, offers a wide range of business services including point-to-multipoint data transmission, computer-to-computer file transfer networking, fax, telex, and video communications. U.S. calling cards such as AT&T, and Sprint may be used locally for making international calls. AT&T has a local office which can assist the U.S. visitor. Post offices are open 0900-1730/1800 Monday to Friday and 0900-1300 Saturday. Sub-post offices close at 1300 one day of the week.

Electricity

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

Plug Types

G

Food And Dining

Ireland is a farming country noted for its meat, bacon, poultry and dairy produce. The surrounding sea, inland lakes and rivers offer fresh fish including salmon, trout, lobster, mussels and periwinkles. Dublin has a wide selection of restaurants and eating places to suit every pocket, as do the other major towns. Cooking courses: Ireland has recently become a must-visit destination for food lovers, as such, cookery courses are available throughout the country. They vary from formal teaching in schools which offer classes all year round, to smaller, informal courses run by enthusiastic chefs in rural restaurants.
National specialties:
? Dublin Bay prawns.
? Oysters (served with Guinness and wholemeal bread).
? Irish stew (traditionally made with mutton or old sheep, now mostly made with lamb or juicy beef, this dish is usually served with potatoes, stock, onions, carrots and garlic).
? Crubeens (pigs' trotters).
? Colcannon (a mixture of potatoes and cabbage cooked together).
? Soda bread.
? Souffl? made with carrageen (a variety of seaweed). The two most internationally distinctive alcoholic products are whiskey (spelt with an 'e') and stout. Irish whiskey has a uniquely characteristic flavor and is matured in a wooden barrel for a minimum of seven years. Certainly as popular as whiskey is stout which is bottled or served from the tap. National drinks:
? Whiskey: popular brands are: Jamesons, John Powers Gold Label, Hewitts, Midleton, Old Bushmills, Paddy, Reserve and Tullamore Dew.
? Irish coffee is popular (a glass of strong black coffee, brown sugar and whiskey with cream).
? Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, is found everywhere.
? One of the most popular lighter ales is Smithwick's or Harp Lager, also available everywhere.
? Liqueurs such as Bailey's and Irish Mist are both made from a base of Irish whiskey. Things to know: Table and self-service are both common. 'Tea' is often almost a full meal with sandwiches and cakes. Pubs, of which Ireland has plenty, are sometimes called 'lounges' or 'bars' and there is often a worded sign outside the premises rather than the traditional painted boards found in Britain. Pubs and bars have counter service. The measure used in Ireland for spirits is larger than that used in Britain, for example an Irish double is equal to a triple in Britain. Licensing hours: Mon-Wed 1030-2330, Thurs-Sat 1030-0030 and Sun 1030-2300. Legal drinking age: 18, although some bars will insist that patrons are over 21 and carry ID. Children under 18 years must leave establishments by 2100.
Tipping:
The customary tip in Ireland is 10 to 12 per cent. Many hotels and restaurants add this in the form of a service charge indicated on the menu or bill. It is not customary to tip in bars unless you have table service when a small tip is advised. Tipping porters, taxi drivers, hairdressers etc is customary but not obligatory. Note Under the 'Retail Export Scheme', it is possible to claim VAT back on goods bought in Ireland on leaving the EU. For further information, contact the VAT Administration Branch, Stamping Building, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 (tel: (1) 674 8858; website: www.revenue.ie).
Nightlife
Most towns in Ireland have clubs, bars and pubs with live music. It is quite common to find pubs holding seisun, playing traditional Irish music with traditional instruments. The dancehalls and discos of previous eras have now been replaced with clubs similar to those found throughout the UK and Western Europe. Special events and themed nights often take place at special attractions such as the medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. There is still a good choice of theaters and cinemas.