This Country Background Report (CBR) on the teaching career in Ireland forms part of the major OECD study “Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers.” Similar reports are being submitted from twenty six other countries. Nine of these countries are also engaged on ‘thematic’ studies of the teaching career, involving site visits by external reviewers appointed by the OECD. The format of the CBRs follows a common pattern, set out by the OECD in its Design and Implementation Plan. This is to facilitate comparative analysis of sub-themes of the reports. Thus, each CBR involves six chapters. The first two – “the national context” and “school system and the teaching force”– are intended to provide succinct overviews of these themes in line with queries posed in the OECD documentation. Each of the other four chapters is designed on a common format – identification of policy concerns; data, trends and factors; policy initiatives and their impact. Specific questions are posed regarding data, trends and factors. The same questions may be posed in relation to more than one sub-theme which gives rise to some repetition in the report, but is important for the comparative analysis. The questions posed seek to elicit more than factual responses. As is stated in the Design and Implementation Plan, “The questions are intended to draw out a problem-oriented and dynamic view of teacher policy issues from each country.... They are intended to draw out coherent analyses and discussions on key policy issues.” The study is intended to be policy oriented, with the overall aim of providing policy makers with information to assist them in formulating and implementing teacher policies leading to quality teaching and learning at the school level. The OECD wishes to ensure the Country Background Report does not just reflect the views of the central administrative educational authorities, but that it also encompasses views of other stakeholders. The views of senior officials within the Department of Education and Science were sought through a series of meetings and through written submissions. A National Consultative Forum, with representatives of fifty two stakeholders was convened in September 2002 and care was taken to record their viewpoints. Care has been taken to enrich the report with concerns and viewpoints of many interested groups. The views of researchers have been sought, and material has been drawn from a range of recent research reports, relevant to the theme. The National Co-ordinators for the CBR and the author are very grateful for all the oral, documentary and statistical data made available to them, and for the co-operation of many people. We hope that this Country Background Report may be regarded as a valuable resource for policy makers and others on the teaching career in contemporary Ireland, and that it will be helpful in the general OECD study. It is planned that the overall OECD study will be completed in 2004, and that the findings will be readily available to all interested parties.