| Guideance
for Business Travellers |
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Business
Courtesy
There is a solid sales potential
for U.S. goods and services in Ireland. This is a highly competitive
market, and the U.S. exporter must keep certain factors in mind to
achieve maximum success.The "golden keys" of customary business
courtesy, especially replying promptly to requests for price quotations
and to orders,are a prerequisite for exporting success. In general,
European business executives are more conservative than their American
counterparts; therefore, it is best to refrain from using first names
until a firm relationship has been formed. Friendship and mutual trust
are highly valued, and once an American has earned this trust a productive
working relationship can usually be counted upon.
Irish buyers appreciate quality and
service and are willing to pay extra if they are convinced of a
product's overall superiority.Care must be taken to assure that
delivery dates will be closely maintained and that after-sales service
will be promptly honoured.Irish buyers, and Europeans in general,
are concerned that after placing an order with an American supplier,
the delivery date will not be honoured. While there are numerous
factors that may interfere with prompt shipment, the U.S. exporter
must allow for additional shipping time and keep in close contact
with the buyer. Meeting delivery schedules is of prime importance.
It is much better to quote a later delivery date that can be guaranteed
than an earlier one that is not completely certain. Since Irish
wholesalers and retailers generally do a lower volume of business
than their American counterparts, the U.S. exporter should be prepared
to sell smaller lots than is the custom in the United States.
U.S.exporters should maintain close
liaison with distributors and customers to exchange information
and ideas. In most instances, mail, fax, or telephone communication
is sufficient, but the understanding developed through periodic
personal visits is the best way to keep distributors apprised of
new developments and to resolve problems quickly. Prompt acknowledgement
of correspondence by air mail or fax is recommended. Further, U.S.
exporters should seriously consider warehousing in Ireland for speedy
supply and service of customers. A vigorous and sustained promotion
is often needed to launch products because of buying habits. Products
must be adapted to both technical requirements and to consumer preferences.
It is not sufficient to merely label a product in conformity to
national requirements for the development of the full market potential.
Consumers must also be attracted to the product by the label and
packaging as well as ease of use.
BUSINESS PROTOCOL: Business people
should wear formal clothes for meetings. Local business people are
very friendly and an informal business approach is most successful.
However it is advisable to make prior appointments and to allow
enough time to complete business matters. Avoid business visits
in the first week of May, during July, August and at Christmas or
New Year.
CONFERENCES/CONVENTIONS: For
more information contact:The Irish Tourist Board or the Convention
Bureau of Ireland, Bord Falte, Baggot Street Bridge, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: (01) 6765871. Fax: (01) 676 4760.
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: The Irish
are a gregarious race, and everywhere an animated 'craic' (talk)
can be heard. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills (better known as Oscar
Wilde) once claimed -"We are the greatest talkers since the
Greeks". Close community contact is very much part of the Irish
way of life and almost everywhere there is an intimate small town
atmosphere.Visitors will find the people very friendly and welcoming
no matter where one finds oneself in the country. A meal in an Irish
home is usually a substantial affair and guests will eat well. Dinner
is a mid-day and evening meal. Even in cities there is less formal
wear than in most European countries and casual dress is widely
acceptable. Women, however, often dress up for smart restaurants
and social functions. Handshaking is usual, and modes of address
will often be informal. Smoking is acceptable unless otherwise stated.
Tipping: The customary tip in Ireland is 10-15%. Many hotels
and restaurants add this in the form of a service charge indicated
on the menu or bill. It is not always customary to tip in bars unless
you have table service, but is still generally advisable to do so.
Taxi drivers, porters and hairdressers all receive tips.
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Commercial Language
There are two official languages in Ireland - Irish and English.
While English is used predominantly, the Irish language (Gaelic)
is also used in the western part of the country. Language barriers
pose no problems. While English is normally used in business contracts
and correspondence, some expressions and terms may have different
meanings from those in the United States. To assure complete understanding,
it is well to define unfamiliar terms. Reference to INCOTERMS, the
international set of rules for commercial terms, helps to reduce
possible misunderstandings. See "Quotations and payment terms
& quota section.
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Passports and
Visas
| Passport and
Visas |
| |
Passport Required? |
Visa Required? |
Return Ticket Required |
| Full British |
No |
No |
No |
| British Visitors Passport |
Valid |
|
|
| Other EC |
1 |
No |
No |
| Outside EC |
Yes |
2 |
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PASSPORTS: [1] Valid passport required
by all except nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and
The Netherlands providing they hold a valid national ID card (other
EC nationals do require a passport). For UK nationals, see British
Visitors Passport below.
British Visitors Passport: Accepted;
although there is in fact no passport control between Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Passengers in transit
through the UK are advised to hold onward or return tickets beyond
Ireland to destination outside the UK.
VISAS: Not required by EC nationals.
[2] Every U.S. traveller must have a
valid passport. No visa is required of U.S. citizens visiting Ireland
for less than 3 months, but one is required for longer periods.
An American citizen entering Ireland for permanent residence must
register with the police (Aliens Office) as soon as possible after
entering the country .U.S. citizens planning to work in the country
must first obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labour. The
permit is to be presented to immigration upon arrival. Such permits
must be obtained by the employer and are usually granted only for
specialised work. Management and skilled workers have no difficulty
in obtaining the required work permits, which are renewable every
12 months.
Communications
Telephone: IDD is available, Country code: 353. Fax: Many hotels
have facilities.
Telex: Telex services are fully automatic
to the UK and Europe and are available from main post offices and
hotels.
Post: Irish postage stamps must be used
on letters posted in the Republic. Post offices are open from 0900-1730/1800
Monday to Friday. Sub-post offices close at 1300 on one day of the
week. The central post office is in O'Connell Street, Dublin, and
open from 0800-2000 Monday to Friday for all business (1900 for
parcels); 0800-2300 for sale of postage stamps, acceptance of telegrams,
registered letters and express letters; 0900-2000 for Poste Restante
correspondence.
Press: There are five daily newspapers
published in Dublin including; The Irish Times, Evening Herald and
the Irish Independent; and two in Cork. British and American dailies
and Sunday papers are available also.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies and wavelengths:
From time to time these change.
| Voice of America |
|
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| MHz |
11.97 |
9.670 |
6.040 |
5.995 |
| Metres |
25.06 |
31.02 |
49.67 |
50.04 |
| BBC |
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| MHz |
12.10 |
9.410 |
6.045 |
3.955 |
| Metres |
24.80 |
31.88 |
49.63 |
75.85 |
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Other Information
With the ease of
telephone communications, international calls are frequently the
best method of arranging appointments and maintaining solid commercial
relations. The time zone for Ireland is Greenwich Mean Time or 5
hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST+ 5 hours). Fax
machines have increased the speed and ease of international communications
and should be used to maintain strong business ties. Medical services
are excellent at major hospitals and compare with those in the United
States. Common medical needs are readily obtained, and special supplies
are normally available on short notice. An international certificate
of vaccination is not required for travellers from the United States.
Drinking water is excellent, most pharmaceuticals are available,
and sanitation at American standards. Rental automobiles are available
at numerous locations. An international or state driving license
is acceptable.Traffic moves on the left-hand side of the road, cars
are right hand drive, and it may take the some visitors time to
adjust to this. Tipping is as appropriate in Ireland as it is in
the United States. Generally, for cabdrivers and waiters, 15 percent
is the norm. Porters and bellhops receive 50 pence per piece of
luggage. The electric current in Ireland is alternating current,
50 cycle, 220 volts. American appliances, such as electric shavers
or hair dryers, do not work and will be damaged if used without
a converter. Because of the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream,
medium to heavyweight clothes maybe worn most of the year. Wool
jackets and hats are ideal. Rainwear and sturdy walking shoes should
also be included in the wardrobe since there is occasional light
rain ("liquid sunshine").
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Business Hours
A 40-hour,
5-day workweek is general for offices and factories.For offices,
the customary hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with lunch from 1:00
p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Factories usually start work at 8:00 a.m.; banking
hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with banks having various
evening hours posted. Most retail stores are open from 9:00 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although some have later hours
to permit evening shopping. Because of vacations in July and August,
many Irish business executives may not be available except by appointment.
Conservative business attire is recommended at all times. Business
appointments are also required and visitors are expected to be punctual.
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European Dates and Numbers
In Ireland,
as in the rest of Europe, dates are usually written in the sequence
of day, month, and year. As an example, the date march 17, 1997
is usually found in written correspondence as 17 March 1997 or 17.3.1997.
For currency or other numerical quantities, use commas to mark off
the thousands position and a decimal point (period) to denote the
decimal amounts the same practice as followed in the United States;
for example, IR£1,234,456.78
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Money
Currency: The basic Irish monetary unit is
the Irish Punt (IR£) = 100 pence. Notes are in denominations
of IR£100,50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of
IR£1, and 50, 20, 10, 5,2 and 1 pence.
Credit cards: Mastercard, American Express,
DinersClub and Visa are all widely accepted. Check with your credit
card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services
which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Travellers checks
are usually accepted but visitors should inquire on the policy of
the bank, hotel, or store before seeking to cash a personal check.
Accepted throughout Ireland.
Exchange rate indicators: The Irish
pound has broken its historical tie with the British pound and these
currencies donor trade at par. See "Foreign Exchange Regulations"
section. The value of the punt changes with respect to the U.S.dollar.
Check the financial section of the daily newspaper fort he current
exchange rate. The following figures are included as a guide to
the movements of the Irish Punt against Sterling and the US dollar:
Date: Oct'89 Oct'90 Oct'91 Oct'92
£1.00= 1.11 1.11 1.09 1.09-£IR
$1.00= 0.70 0.57 0.63 0.59-£IR
Current exchange rates for Irish Punts
Currency restrictions: Import: No restrictions on import of local
or foreign currencies. Export: Limit of IR£150, or the equivalent
of IR£1200 in foreign currency. Any more than this can be
changed into travellers cheques which can than be freely exported.
Non-residents can export any foreign currency up to the amount imported
and declared.
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Accomodations
In view of the large number of visitors going
to Ireland, business travellers are advised to make their hotel
reservations well in advance, especially during the summer months
in order to assure the needed accommodations. There is a wide range
of accommodations from world class hotels to the more individualized
and economical bed and breakfast (B&B) guesthouses.
There are 658 hotels registered and
inspected by the Tourist Board which fixes their prices. Most hotels
belong to the Irish Hotels Federation, 13 North brook Road, Dublin
6, Ireland. Tel: (01)697 6459. Fax: (01) 697 4613.
Grading: The Irish Tourist Board register
and grade hotels as follows:
A*: Hotels which are particularly well
equipped and furnished to a very high standard of comfort and service
under widely experienced management and staff. A very high standard
of cuisine is reflected in varied a la carte and table d'hôte
menus. Night services are provided. Suites are available and most
bedrooms have private bathrooms.
A: Hotels which provide a high standard
of comfort and service under experienced management and staff. With
varied meals of good quality and presentation. A large number of
rooms have private bathrooms.
BB*: Hotels which are well furnished,
offering very comfortable accommodation and good service. Bedrooms
with private bathrooms available. Good Cuisine.
B: Hotels that are well kept and offer
comfortable accommodation with good bathroom and toilet facilities.
Limited but good standard of cuisine and service.
C: Hotels that are clean and comfortable with satisfactory accommodation
and service. Hot and cold running water and heating in bedrooms.
Adequate bathroom and toilet facilities.
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Holidays
The
following are the official statutory holidays when most commercial
offices are closed. Certain other days are celebrated as holidays
within local jurisdictions. American holidays are observed by the
U.S. Embassy and should be considered when telephoning or visiting
the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service staff there.
Holidays
New Year's Day - January 1
Saint Patrick's Day - March 17
Easter Monday - Variable
June Holiday - First Monday of the month
August Holiday - First Monday of the month
October Holiday - Last Monday of the month
Christmas Day - December 25
Saint Stephen's Day - December 26
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Climate
The
temperate climate is due to mild south-westerly winds and the Gulf
Stream. Summers are warm, while temperatures during winter are much
cooler. Spring and autumn are very mild. Rain falls all year.
Required Clothing: Lightweights during summer with warmer medium
weights for the winter. Rain wear is advisable throughout the year.
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