Relief on our bank debt burden is a must

The interpretation of Irish economic statistics is always complicated by the fact that the multinational sector plays such a significant role in the economy.

The timing and magnitude of the repatriation of multinational profits back to the overseas parent tends to have a major bearing on economic growth numbers from quarter to quarter and from year to year.

In addition, as new data becomes available from the Revenue Commissioners in relation to issues such as corporation tax receipts, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is forced to revise previous growth numbers from quarter to quarter.