Services and house prices most urgent challenges for Ireland

Hard to believe it, but we are facing into another year, which will inevitably involve fresh challenges and fresh opportunities.

While we were able to face into 2015 with a sense of guarded optimism, we can be reasonably confident that a higher level of optimism is warranted going into 2016.

After all, 2015 ended with the economy showing a decent level of buoyancy, and all recent consumer and business surveys are showing heightened levels of confidence for the coming year.