Travel & General Information

Getting Here
Visa Requirements
EU Citizens and Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are simply required to show a passport, valid for at least 6 months. All other non-EU citizens should contact their local embassies for specific requirements.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for Ireland's immigration and visa policy. For more information on visa requirements for Ireland please see their website: www.dfa.ie
Delegates should also be aware that visas may be required for transient travel to Ireland, for example through the UK or mainland Europe. Please ensure you enquire with the relevant Embassy for that country regarding these requirements once you have confirmed your travel details.
Please note that it can take up to 8 weeks to process a visa application and early application is recommended.

Access through Dublin Airport and Ferry Services

Ireland‘s capital enjoys excellent access by air from all major European and international destinations. Over 90 airlines serve Dublin Airport from over 150 destinations.
Aer Lingus and Ryanair are Ireland’s largest airlines.
Dublin airport is only 12 kilometres (8 miles) from Dublin city centre and therefore only a short ride by bus, taxi or car. Both Dublin Bus and Aircoach have services that leave from directly outside the airport terminals and can bring you into the city centre. Dublin Bus services cater for the bus (Busaras) and train stations (Connolly and Heuston Stations), while Aircoach caters for many of the city centre hotels including a stop near the conference hotel venue, Alexander Hotel off Merrion Square. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Aircoach website at www.aircoach.ie thereby making it a quick and convenient option. There is a taxi rank directly outside the Arrivals Halls in Dublin Airport.
Taxis into the city centre can cost approximately €25.00 - €30.00.
For further information on Dublin Airport and transport routes to and from the city centre visit the Dublin Airport, visit: www.dublinairport.com

Arriving by Ferry
Regular scheduled ferry services operate between Ireland and the UK bringing both foot passengers and cars and other vehicles to Dublin through two ferry ports, Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire.

Dublin Port is centrally located, only minutes from Dublin City Centre and  is Ireland’s busiest passenger Ferryport. For further information on Dublin Port please check out the Dublin Port: www.dublinport.ie

Dún Laoghaire Harbour is located 11 kilometres (7 miles) south of Dublin city and 25 kilometres (16 miles) from Dublin Airport. Dún Laoghaire is serviced by the DART (Suburban Rail) which can take you to and from the City Centre in less than half an hour. Dun Laoghaire is also serviced regularly by Dublin Bus.

Useful Facts & Figures    

Climate
Ireland enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters - temperatures average 4-7 degrees celsius (39-44 degrees fahrenheit) and cool summers - between 16-20 degrees celsius (60-67 degrees fahrenheit). July is normally a very pleasant time to visit but delegates are advised to bring light rain gear just in case!

For up to date weather information, visit: www.met.ie

Currency and Credit Cards
The Republic of Ireland's official currency is the Euro, the common European currency  while the currency of Northern Ireland is the UK pound Sterling (GBP).
Major Credit Cards - particularly Visa, MasterCard, and American Express - are widely accepted throughout Ireland.

Electricity
220 volts, sockets and three-pin square, conforming to Irish and British standard. A power converter and plug adapter may be required for electrical devices.

Insurance
Delegates are advised to arrange personal travel insurance before leaving their home country. The Conference Organizing Committee or it’s agents will not be responsible for any medical expenses, loss or accidents incurred during the conference. It is recommended that citizens from EU countries bring with them a current EHIC card.

Language
English is the spoken language throughout Ireland. Irish (or Gaelic) is the original native language of Ireland and enjoys constitutional status as the National and 1st official language of the Republic of Ireland and it is an official language of the EU. Place names and signage are usually in both languages.

Smoking Ban
The Republic of Ireland has introduced a blanket ban on smoking in all places of work to protect public health and reduce the incidences of smoking-related illness. Smoking is prohibited in public areas within the Republic of Ireland – this includes all bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Although some hotel bedrooms may be exempt from the ban, it is applied to all other areas within hotels.

Shopping
Opening hours are normally from 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday with late night shopping on a Thursday evening until 21:00. Most shops are open on Sundays from 12:00 – 18:00. There are a number of local convenience stores that open until 23:00, some even later.

Gifts typically associated with Ireland include knitwear, tweeds, linen, pottery, crystal, Irish music, whiskey and smoked salmon.

TAX Refunds
Available to visitors at the end of their trip (exception EU residents). Price of most goods includes Value Added Tax (VAT). Ask for a tax-free shopping form with each purchase and present these forms to either Global Tax Free Shopping or Tax Back at the airport prior to your departure to avail of tax refund. Allow a little extra time for this.

Time Zone
Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and from March to October, operates on GMT + 1 hour.