Apart from getting out there and talking to real people in the real economy, the two pieces of data that give the best picture of what is really going on in the economy are the monthly tax returns and employment data.

I have had cause to travel to many parts of the country over the past few weeks and I have been struck by the number of overseas tourists in the country.

The prognosis for the Irish economy just continues to get better and better.

The key to Ireland’s future is to build a sustainable diversified economic model, and not end up putting most of our eggs in one basket, as we did in the not too distant past.

Now that a new complexion has been put on the physical shape of the Government and it has departed for the summer holidays, speculation will mount about the manner in which policy might or might not change over the remaining lifetime of the Government.

Ireland’s export statistics have become very volatile in recent times.

Nobody but nobody can possibly argue against the thesis that the economy badly needs as much stimulus, consumer spending and employment support and creation as possible.

Following the disastrous election results in May, the Government is now under considerable pressure with less than two years to go to a general election.

It should come as no surprise to anybody to learn that politics is a very cruel and callous business.

Back in July 2012 the president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, promised the world that he would do whatever was needed to solve the crisis in the eurozone and get economic growth back on track.