  The present paper deals with the representation theory of the reflection
equation algebra, connected with a Hecke type R-matrix. Up to some reasonable
additional conditions the R-matrix is arbitrary (not necessary originated from
quantum groups). We suggest a universal method of constructing finite
dimensional irreducible non-commutative representations in the framework of the
Weyl approach well known in the representation theory of classical Lie groups
and algebras. With this method a series of irreducible modules is constructed
which are parametrized by Young diagrams. The spectrum of central elements
s(k)=Tr_q(L^k) is calculated in the single-row and single-column
representations. A rule for the decomposition of the tensor product of modules
into the direct sum of irreducible components is also suggested.
