Warning sign about the metric system used in Ireland
Ireland inherited the imperial system of measurement from Britain, and these units continued to be used after Irish independence. In 1980 the European Union asked all of its member states to convert to the metric system, and in the UK and Ireland this process was to supposed have been completed by 2009. [1] However, in 2007 the changeover was far from complete, and the EU abandoned these efforts to make the metric system compulsory for the UK and Ireland, allowing for both the metric and imperial systems to remain in use indefinitely. [2] Despite this, a considerable amount of metrication has occurred in Ireland, for example, with the changeover to metric on road signs and speed limits being completed by 2005.The metrication process is still ongoing in Ireland, with both measurements widely used.
Metrication began in the State in the 1970s and by 2005 was almost completed; the only exception being that the imperial pint (568 ml) is still used in bars for reasons of tradition. The phrase a "glass of beer" is a colloquial expression for a half-pint (284 ml).[4] All other places must sell liquids measured in millilitres and litres.
Distance signs had displayed kilometres since the 1970s but road speed limits were in miles per hour until January 2005, when they were finally changed to kilometres per hour. Since 2005 all new cars sold in Ireland have speedometers that display only kilometres per hour; odometers generally became metric as well.
The metric system is the only system taught in schools. Beginning in 1970, textbooks were changed to metric. Goods in shops are labelled in metric units.
References in Oireachtas debates
That the Government be asked to appoint a Commission, with power to examine voluntary witnesses, to inquire into and report on the desirability or otherwise of adopting the Metric System in Saorstát Eireann, Senator de Loughry (April 1923). "Notice of motion". Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
In 2006 it became apparent that the 2009 cut-off for the use of Imperial supplementary units could cause problems in US-EU trade. After consultation, EU Directive 2009/3/EC of 11 March 2009, among other measures, permitted:[5]
the indefinite use of Imperial supplementary indications.
the United Kingdom and Ireland to continue the limited exemptions concerning specified uses of the pint, mile and the troy ounce, considering the absence of any impact of these exemptions on cross border trade and the principle of subsidiarity; whilst repealing the exemption for the use of acre for land registration which is no longer applied.
These amendments were published on 7 May 2009 and became effective on 1 January 2010.
Public use
Despite the official status of the metric system, it is still widely ignored by the elderly Irish public (35yrs+) in favour of the imperial system. For example, the elderly Irish public (35yrs+) still often use the imperial system when buying groceries and in cooking at home. However the younger generation predominantly use metric. For example kilometres for distance and kilograms for body weight. One exception is that Feet is still used for measuring height in the Republic. (ie: 6ft 1in)[6] Horse racing in Ireland continues to use stones and pounds as measurements [7]
^Stanuell, Charles A. (1915–1917). "Weights and measures after the war"(PDF). Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland. XCVI (XIII). Dublin: 460–473.
^"'Morning After' Campaign". drinkaware.ie. Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
