The growing need to protect against protectionism

The latest international trade data for Ireland confirm once again that the export sector of the economy remains a very important engine of overall economic growth and it is blatantly obvious that the future health of the export sector is crucial for the overall health and prosperity of the economy.

Ireland is, first and foremost, a textbook example of a very small and very open economy and policymakers - as well as the public - should never forget this very important fact.