Ireland seventh in 'economic freedom' report

Ireland is the seventh most "economically free" nation in the world, according to the latest Economic Freedom of the World Report.

The report, published in Ireland by the Open Republic Institute, rates the economies of 123 countries.

Paul McDonnell, director of the institute, said Ireland slipped two points in this year's study.

"Over the past two years, Ireland has become economically less free," he said.

"We have become more expensive to do business with. We have become more taxed and our Government has grown significantly in terms of its size and its budget."