Ireland rising star of EU economies

IRELAND is set to have the second highest gross national product per person in the EU by 2009, according to the latest statistics.

A comparison of how Ireland performs in relation to the other EU member states issued by the employers’ organisation, IBEC, yesterday shows the country performing well in nine out of 13 indicators, and outperforming the US in several areas.

The figures come days before EU leaders meet in Brussels to agree a revised strategy with new growth targets to kickstart the ailing European economy.