‘Broader growth in sector needed’

A BROADER spread of manufacturing growth beyond the chemical and pharmaceutical sector is needed to stimulate the Irish economy, according to a leading economist.

“While Irish industrial output and merchandise exports have been buoyed by the particularly impressive performance of the chemical and pharmaceutical sector, the reality is that most other sectors have struggled,” said NCB Stockbrokers economist Brian Devine.

“A more broad based improvement in manufacturing is needed to boost the Irish economy. As such it is disappointing that new orders declined on the month,” he said.