Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern, pictured in 2007 Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland
erase and rewind

Ireland's economy should soon be back where it started - except for all that debt

How about we start from scratch?

Updated at 5.03pm

IRELAND’S ECONOMY IS expected to hit its pre-recession peak this year – eight years after the nation’s finances started to plunge into a devastating downward spiral.

Davy Research has predicted the country’s final GDP growth figure for 2014 would be 4.8% and the tally this year would be 3.7%.

That would mean Ireland’s total economic output returned to its 2007 peak again this year – one year earlier than Davy had predicted in mid-year forecasts.

It also expected unemployment to average 9.6% this year before falling to 7% in 2017.

In contrast, Ireland’s official jobless rate in 2007 was below 5% – which represents what is considered to be full employment.

That year general government debt stood at €47 billion – or 24% of GDP – compared to the current figure of €203 billion, about 111% of GDP.

All sectors performing again

In a report today, Davy chief economist Conall Mac Coille said the better-than-expected growth forecasts came from the country’s strong export performance – with IT, pharmaceuticals and domestic producers all doing well.

And we expect that Ireland will continue to compete effectively for foreign direct investment despite the end of the ‘double-Irish’ tax structure,” he said.

The government announced in last year’s budget that it was phasing out the controversial loophole, instead putting in place a “knowledge-development box” to give tax breaks for research and development.

It recently predicted the country could return to full employment by 2018.

Catching up this year

Mac Coille said Ireland’s economy should catch up with the eurozone again this year and move ahead in 2016 when compared to pre-recession outputs.

Davy Davy Research Davy Research

But the country’s Gross National Product (GNP) – which many consider a more-accurate indicator as it strips out multinationals’ outputs that flow offshore – is still expected to lag behind the headline GDP figure over the coming years.

Mac Coille said many “hard-hit, domestic-facing sectors” needed to bounce back and supply problems in the construction industry could hold back further growth.

But he said the Central Bank’s new mortgage rules, announced last week, were not expected to have any impact on the Irish recovery.

READ: Enda Kenny says more tax cuts are on the way >

READ: Enda believes young people who left Ireland will be able to come home in 3 years >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
77
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds