New figures show 1.6% growth in second quarter of year

There are tentative signs that the economy is beginning to recover with new data from the CSO showing GDP growth of 1.6% in the second quarter of the year.

It is the second consecutive quarter of GDP growth.

However the Central Statistics Office has warned the figures do not show the full effects of the current slowdown in the world economy.

The figures show growth across practically all sectors of the economy with exports performing particularly well, up almost 24% in the year.

However Michael Connolly from the CSO is warning that the figures are still quite volatile.

He warned against "over-interpreting" the results.

"It's not certain that the trend will continue," he said.