Ireland, one of the British Isles, is renowned across the European continent for its outstanding natural conditions and advanced economic level, making it a desirable destination for many immigrants. However, compared to traditional immigrant-receiving countries, what are the advantages of Ireland?
I. Living Environment
Ireland is a highly developed capitalist country that has passed its period of primitive accumulation. Heavy industry has shifted abroad, and the domestic industry is dominated by cutting-edge high-tech enterprises, agriculture, animal husbandry, and light industries such as food processing. The Irish government vigorously develops clean energy and is committed to abandoning coal demand by 2025, ending its reliance on coal products. Due to low consumption of resources and the environment, Ireland maintains a high forest coverage rate, with lush forest vegetation everywhere, earning it the title of a "natural oxygen bar." Consequently, Ireland has almost never experienced extreme PM2.5 levels.
Advanced developed countries generally attach great importance to food safety, and Ireland has the strictest food safety laws within the European Union. Strict quality control has not hindered production; due to its developed animal husbandry, Ireland not only has an extremely abundant supply of meat but also possesses one of the world's three purest milk sources.
II. Political Neutrality
Ireland is one of the few permanently neutral countries in the world. Because it is located on an island far from the European continent, it is less involved in the disputes of major powers. Its relationship with the European Union is also not as tight, so it has not accepted a large number of refugees and has not been significantly affected by the refugee crisis.
The native Irish people are Celts who practice Catholicism. The Irish love their land, value freedom, are warm and hospitable, enjoy sharing, and are highly accepting of immigrants. Moreover, like the Chinese, they place great importance on family, so immigrants can quickly integrate into the local society. Furthermore, since the peaceful resolution of the Northern Ireland issue, Irish society has been stable, the economy has developed rapidly, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. In the "National Happiness" ranking of the latest 2018 World Happiness Report, Ireland ranked 14th.
III. Developed Economy
According to statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in the 2016 GDP per capita ranking, Ireland ranked second in Europe with $72,482 per capita. Due to its open atmosphere and preferential policies, Ireland attracts a large amount of foreign investment every year and has been listed on Forbes' "Best Countries for Business" for two consecutive years, ranking second in Europe, just behind Sweden.
Ireland has established deep cooperative relationships with the world's largest economies. Today, Ireland has become the second-largest target country for U.S. foreign investment. According to the "Ireland-U.S. Economic Relations Report" released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, more than 700 U.S. companies have entered Ireland in the past 20 years, with a total investment in Ireland exceeding $343 billion.
The superior investment environment has attracted many top multinational companies, including not only internet pioneers such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google, but also biopharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen. At the same time, in recent years, more and more Chinese companies have entered various fields of the Irish market, such as Huawei, Bank of China, and WuXi Biologics.
IV. Family Welfare
As a developed country, Ireland provides tax-paying citizens with world-leading high welfare, covering:
1. Child Welfare: Free medical benefits for children under 6; free vaccinations for children aged 0-16; a monthly subsidy of 140 euros for every child aged 0-18.
2. Medical Welfare: Family members can enjoy high-reimbursement medical insurance provided by the government, such as the Long-Term Illness Scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme, and free regular cancer screenings.
3. Maternity Welfare: Ireland stipulates that mothers can enjoy an extra-long maternity leave of 26 weeks (6.5 months), and can receive a maternity benefit of 240 euros per week for a total of 26 weeks. In addition, all public medical expenses before, during, and after childbirth are free.
4. Elderly Welfare: People over 70 enjoy free medical care provided by the state, the state subsidizes nursing home living expenses, and free travel cards are issued to those over 66.
