Noonan hopeful of a decade of growth

Ireland could be looking at growth rates of 3% a year for the next decade according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan, that would leave the crisis years far behind.

He increased the expected growth rate this year from 2.1% to 3.1%, saying his department expects it to be 3% again next year, in 2015.

The previous growth figures were released in April but Mr Noonan said a lot had happened since then and the latest indications were that the growth rate will exceed 3% and be around 3.1% for 2014, and around 3% for next year.