iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Employment in Ireland's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors grew by 63% in just the past 6 years. There are now nearly 100,000 people employed - the vast majority of whom work for multinational companies. It's a great success story of creating high-skilled and well-paid jobs 🇮🇪🧑‍⚕️👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Academic freedom in Ireland is one of the highest in the world. Students and lecturers can pursue their studies without political direction or interference. That fosters innovation and encourages critical thinking. And it's something to be proud of 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The youth of Ireland are the best educated in all of Europe. Two-thirds of those aged from 25 to 34 have a higher level educational qualification - more than in any other EU nation. Twenty years ago the figure was just 40%. This enabled us to create higher skilled jobs and increased earnings. 🇮🇪👍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Ireland is the 10th most gender equal nation in the world. 🇮🇪 The country has seen sustained progress over the past 20 years, driven by steady gains in economic participation and political representation while maintaining full educational parity, says the World Economic Forum. 👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Governments should aim, above all else, to make their citizens happier. Higher national wellbeing increases support for the government, increases voter turnout at elections, and increases the government's share of the vote at general elections. It strengthens democracy.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Irish teenagers are among the best at fact-checking what they're told. 60% of 15 year olds in Ireland report both checking the credibility of information sources and placing greater trust in scientific evidence than in common sense. That reduces vulnerability to misinformation and disinformation 🇮🇪😇

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

More than three-quarters of Irish people in their 20s are in work. In fact, Ireland has one of the highest rates of youth employment in the EU. We have created many more opportunities for our young people than other European countries. 🇮🇪👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"If you think it’s hard to buy a house in Dublin, try Sydney. In Dublin, the median house price is around 5 times the median household income. In Sydney, it’s 14x." High house prices are a global problem explains Progress Ireland. Read what other countries are doing in the link below

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Irish people have twice as much income today as they did 30 years ago. Disposable income in Ireland has doubled in *real* terms - i.e. after stripping out price inflation. That's a dramatic improvement in living standards in a single generation. 🇮🇪👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ireland's 15-year-olds have ranked first for reading, third for science and fourth for mathematics out of the 27 EU countries, in a major international educational study. 🇮🇪🎒👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Ireland is the 7th most competitive country in the world. The country is well ranked for its strong economy, good government efficiency, and positive business practices. It also deemed an exemplar in applying the rule of law. Those are all good things worth celebrating. 🇮🇪👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Planning on staying in and watching TV tonight? 64% of Irish internet users have a paid subscription to a film, series, or sports streaming service. That's the highest anywhere in the EU (and twice the EU average)! Make good use of it so 📺🫖🍷

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Dublin airport is the 10th busiest in the EU. The airport hosted a quarter of a million commercial flights last year. That was roughly half as many as the leading destinations - Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles De Gaulle - that would have a lot more transit traffic. Not bad at all. 🇮🇪🛫

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

We have record numbers of specialists in our health service. The number of consultant doctors in Ireland has increased by 50% in only the past 7 years. And the growth has outpaced the population increase so there is a meaningful improvement in the expert care available to us. 🇮🇪🧑‍⚕️

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Ireland has passed 'peak child'. The number of children aged under 15 peaked at 1,015,500 in 2019 and is now gradual declining. While there are immediate implications for the education system, the long term impacts of an aging population on work, health and public services will be profound. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Irish people are not emigrating in great numbers. Those who leave Ireland are closely matched by the number returning. 35,000 left last year and 30,000 returned. Net migration by Irish citizens is less than one-fifth of what it was in 2012. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Ireland's population continues to grow and now tops 5.5 million. 30% of the recent growth is a natural increase thanks to more births than deaths, 70% is due to inward migration. Our population has now doubled since its nadir in 1961 when emigration was widespread 🇮🇪👍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

The Irish are the biggest online ticket purchasers in Europe! Most adults in Ireland bought an event ticket online in the past 3 months (51.5% did). And that's twice as many as in the average EU country. Only the Dutch and the Danes come close to matching us. 🇮🇪🎫

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Ireland is the 3rd most prosperous country on Earth. So says the Legatum Prosperity Index which ranks nations on their development, freedom, and social fabric. Ireland excels in our freedoms and family & community bonds. Only the Swiss and Norwegians live better lives than the Irish today. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Had a summer break yet? 79% of Irish adults take a holiday at home or overseas. In fact, we are much more inclined to take a leisure break than most Europeans and are not far behind the leaders, the Dutch (84% of whom take a trip). 🇮🇪🇪🇺

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I am honoured to be appointed to the board of the National Museum of Ireland. The museum is home to our greatest collections of Irish heritage and culture. I seek to apply my experience in tourism, heritage, marketing, and governance to make a positive contribution to this iconic institution.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Ireland is becoming a happier country. The number of Irish people feeling enjoyment or happiness increased markedly over the past 4 years, while the numbers reporting stress or frustration dropped to the lowest level yet. For all our challenges, this is a great place to live 🇮🇪👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Perhaps the biggest driver of consumer confidence isn't the economy, it's social connection. People who feel socially connected are consistently more optimistic. Deepening social connection makes for a happier and more optimistic nation.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Teenagers in Ireland are more comfortable than ever talking with their mother or father if something is bothering them. 80% of Irish 17-year-olds say they find it easy to speak to mum, 66% to dad. Both figures increased dramatically over the past 20 years. 🇮🇪👨‍👩‍👧

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

More than seven-in-ten Irish companies (with 10+ employees) are active on social media. Ireland is above the EU average but not yet at the level of Malta and Finland where nearly nine-in-ten enterprises participate. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

What's most important to you for a good quality of life? Europeans rank health first, then financial stability and a good social life. The science backs them up - these are among the things that contribute most to our happiness. 🇪🇺😀

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Look at the incredible progress in reducing deaths due to heart disease in Ireland. The death rate peaked in the mid-1960s before declining, with rapid progress made over the past 30 years. Reduced smoking, statins to control cholesterol & improved heart attack treatments made a huge difference 🇮🇪❤️

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

The world is becoming more equal. The number of countries with high income inequality is falling and the number with low inequality is growing. Ireland joined the group of low inequality nations in 2018. Income inequality in Ireland is far below the EU average and similar to Denmark. 🇮🇪🌍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Dublin is the coffee-loving capital of the world! Ireland's capital city has the greatest number of coffee shops per capita. Lisbon and Copenhagen place 2nd and 3rd. The Irish remain among the world's biggest tea drinkers, but it seems we prefer our Lattes these days. 🇮🇪☕️

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The vast majority of Irish people are optimistic about the future of Ireland. 77% of us say we are. Only those in Denmark, Luxembourg and Poland are more optimistic about their futures. For all our challenges, we are in a good place and making positive progress. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

People worldwide view Ireland as having an excellent quality of life. We are ranked among the top 20 nations offering a strong combination of safety, healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and public services. This view is borne out by the facts - it's a great place to live 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Interested in how we can make Ireland a happier country? Join me at the Percy French Festival in Co. Roscommon this Wednesday where I'll be sharing my perspective. Ireland is already among the world's happiest countries, but there are lessons to be learned from other places. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Irish people are among the wealthiest on the planet, says a report from UBS. The median wealth of an Irish person is US$98,000, placing us among the 20th wealthiest people worldwide. This is mostly the value of housing and pensions. A big change for the better over the past 50 years. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The vast majority of Irish people are satisfied with their lives. 93% of us say we are very or fairly satisfied with our quality of life. Among EU nations, only the Danes and Slovenians are more satisfied. We recognise we are very fortunate to live where we do. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Poverty in Ireland is low by international standards. Only 7% of people are in relative poverty. That's far below the level in the vast majority of OECD countries and is similar to Sweden and Denmark. Our tax and redistribution system does an excellent job of supporting those who need it most. 🇮🇪👏

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

We have massively reduced air pollution in Ireland. The number of healthy life years lost to pollution-related illness has fallen by three-quarters over the past 30 years. That's mainly due to declining use of fossil fuels, especially coal and peat in our homes. Great progress 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Corruption is rare in Ireland. 4% of Irish people say they have experienced or witnessed a case of corruption in the last 12 months. Only 4 EU countries report lower levels. Less corruption increases citizen's trust in public institutions and raises national happiness. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Nine in ten recent school leavers or graduates from universities in Ireland are in jobs. We have one the highest employment rate of recent graduates in the EU. Only Malta, Germany and the Netherlands do better. A positive sign of a powerful economy offering strong prospects for many. 🇮🇪👍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Ireland is one of the best countries for gay and lesbian people to live in. More than eight in ten Irish people say their city or area is a good place for the LGBT community to live. That makes Ireland one of the most accepting places in the world. Happy Pride! 🌈

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Irish people are very satisfied with the way democracy works here. 80% of people in Ireland say they are satisfied - a figure far in excess of the EU average of 58%. Only those in Luxembourg and a few Nordic states show greater satisfaction. 🇮🇪🗳️

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Ireland is one of the most positively perceived countries worldwide. 🇮🇪 We place 13th of 65 nations in the Democracy Perception Index survey of 46,000 people around the world. Switzerland & Canada have the most positive perceptions. Israel is the least popular country, then Afghanistan & North Korea.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Ireland is one of the most peaceful nations on the planet. 🇮🇪 The country is rated 5th most peaceful in the Global Peace Index's assessment of 163 countries. Iceland tops the table, then New Zealand, Switzerland and Slovenia. Yet, global peacefulness is deteriorating. We must cherish and nurture it.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

People in Ireland have a more positive attitude towards public service media. 42% of Irish people have a positive view, much higher than in the UK (30%) and Europe in general (36%). People praise the universal access, trustworthiness and high-quality journalism of RTE & TG4. 🇮🇪👍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Should Ireland introduce a ban on social media accounts for under-16s? 70% of Irish people say 'yes'. Even half of Gen Z's (aged 18-29) agree. Research shows that every additional hour spent on such platforms increases your risk of depression by 13%. A ban seems sensible.

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Children in Ireland have the 6th highest standard of well-being. UNICEF ranked 37 countries on children's physical health, mental well-being, and skills. Ireland was #1 for skills, #11 for physical health, but #24 for mental health. A strong position overall, but more to do on mental well-being. 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in Europe but - importantly - unemployment among those who did not complete secondary level education is similar to that who completed a degree. That's very different elsewhere in the EU. Excellent social equality and fairness 🇮🇪👍

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The share of young people in Ireland who are not in employment or education is among the lowest in Europe. Only 8% of those aged 15-29 are - and that's half the figure it was 10 years ago. The Netherlands and Sweden are the only nations doing appreciably better. Great progress 🇮🇪

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Ireland is one of the best countries in the world at managing fishing. The Fishing Risk Index rates 152 coastal countries on their effectiveness in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Ireland is the 10th best rated in the world, alongside other European nations. 🇮🇪🐟

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

More Irish people than ever are taking part in sport on a weekly basis – more than 2.12 million of us. Personal exercise is the most popular, with 1 in 5 people participating weekly. Next are swimming (8%), running (7%), cycling (4%), and weights (4%). Make good use of the weekend so! 🇮🇪🚶‍♀️🏃🚴‍♂️

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Mark Henry @drmarkhenry.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Teenage pregnancy shock! The number of babies born to teenage mothers in Ireland has fallen to a record low. Only 551 babies were born to mothers aged 15-19 last year. That's 83% fewer than the peak in 1999. Better sex education and the availability of contraceptives played important roles. 🇮🇪🤰

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