<P> The Atlantic Ocean and the warming influence of the Gulf Stream affect weather patterns in Ireland . Temperatures differ regionally, with central and eastern areas tending to be more extreme . However, due to a temperate oceanic climate, temperatures are seldom lower than − 5 ° C (23 ° F) in winter or higher than 26 ° C (79 ° F) in summer . The highest temperature recorded in Ireland was 33.3 ° C (91.9 ° F) on 26 June 1887 at Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, while the lowest temperature recorded was − 19.1 ° C (− 2.4 ° F) at Markree Castle in Sligo . Rainfall is more prevalent during winter months and less so during the early months of summer . Southwestern areas experience the most rainfall as a result of south westerly winds, while Dublin receives the least . Sunshine duration is highest in the southeast of the country . The far north and west are two of the windiest regions in Europe, with great potential for wind energy generation . Ireland normally gets between 1100 and 1600 hours of sunshine each year, most areas averaging between 3.25 and 3.75 hours a day . The sunniest months are May and June, which average between 5 and 6.5 hours per day over most of the country . The extreme southeast gets most sunshine, averaging over 7 hours a day in early summer . December is the dullest month, with an average daily sunshine ranging from about 1 hour in the north to almost 2 hours in the extreme southeast . The sunniest summer in the 100 years from 1881 to 1980 was 1887, according to measurements made at the Phoenix Park in Dublin; 1980 was the dullest . </P> <P> Ireland is a constitutional republic with a parliamentary system of government . The Oireachtas is the bicameral national parliament composed of the President of Ireland and the two Houses of the Oireachtas: Seanad Éireann (Senate) and Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives). Áras an Uachtaráin is the official residence of the President of Ireland, while the houses of the Oireachtas meet at Leinster House in Dublin . </P> <P> The President serves as head of state, and is elected for a seven - year term and may be re-elected once . The President is primarily a figurehead, but is entrusted with certain constitutional powers with the advice of the Council of State . The office has absolute discretion in some areas, such as referring a bill to the Supreme Court for a judgment on its constitutionality . Michael D. Higgins became the ninth President of Ireland on 11 November 2011 . </P> <P> The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) serves as the head of government and is appointed by the President upon the nomination of the Dáil . Most Taoisigh have served as the leader of the political party that gains the most seats in national elections . It has become customary for coalitions to form a government, as there has not been a single - party government since 1989 . Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017 . </P>

Why is the republic of ireland not in the uk