Time has come to end budgetary uncertainty

ANY growth there is in the Irish economy at the moment is being delivered by the export sector. This is good, but is not good enough.

The growth in exports is largely being driven by productivity improvements rather than employment growth, and given the strong contribution by the foreign-owned sector; the tax revenues flowing from the growth are not as strong as would be the case if domestic demand were driving growth.

It is of course vitally important to rebuild an Irish export model based around quality and competitiveness.