Commission forecasts slight fall in Ireland's economic growth

The European Commission has revealed that Ireland's economy returned to modest growth of 0.9% in 2011, after a sharp 10% contraction in output between 2008 and 2010.

The European Commission has revealed that Ireland's economy returned to modest growth of 0.9% in 2011, but has revised down its growth forecast for the country to 0.4%.

The Commission said that the third quarter of last year was weaker than anticipated, with GDP contracting by 1.9% from the same quarter in 2010, especially in terms of domestic demand.