Ireland’s reputation as a green land is well-deserved as a new survey shows we have one of the best recycling rates of household rubbish anywhere in Europe.

AN POST provides one of the worst postal services in Europe for on-time deliveries — despite stamps costing more in Ireland than most other EU states.

IRELAND’S status as a low-tax economy has been confirmed with a new report on taxation in the EU which shows Irish workers enjoy some of the lowest income tax rates anywhere in Europe.

IRELAND has the highest birth rate in the EU, with almost 4.2 million people now living in the Republic.

THE Government is spending less on old-age pensions than any other EU member state, despite the State’s commitment to set aside 1% of GNP, gross national product, each year for the National Pensions Reserve Fund.