US economic revival will benefit Ireland

THE positive economic performance of the US economy can only benefit Ireland, according to Austin McCabe, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland.

Mr McCabe said that confidence was returning to the US economy and this was reflected in the views of American chamber members in Ireland.

"Anecdotally, I am hearing increasing optimism within our membership. I recently met with 35 of my American colleagues and it was heartening that nearly half had secured additional investment in 2003 despite the difficulties in the US economy. More importantly, well over half expect to maintain or increase their level of investment in Ireland in the coming 12­18 months. This in turn will lead to increased jobs, in spite of concerns being raised at corporate level about the costs of doing business in Ireland," he said.