The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has left its forecasts for Irish economic growth unchanged – at 3.8% for this year and 3.6% for 2018 – but has urged new Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to adopt a more “cautious” stance than previously envisaged in October’s budget.

As TK Whitaker celebrates his 100th birthday this week, Ryle Dwyer examines his phenomenal contribution to Irish life and politics

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show a dramatic growth of more than a quarter in the Irish economy last year.

The unemployment rate is expected to dip below 7.6% by the fourth quarter of this year and fall below 7% by the end of 2017.

Over the course of 2015, energy prices dropped a stone bringing huge short-term benefits, in the process, to the Irish economy. Over the past few months, however, this trend has gone into reverse.

The ESRI has published the most upbeat growth projections for the economy since the upswing two years ago.

AT Bertie Ahern’s much-anticipated appearance yesterday before the Oireachtas banking inquiry, he sought to justify his roles as finance minister, and as Taoiseach during the Celtic Tiger.

The Government has been accused of not using funds arising from the sale of shares in the country’s pillar banks to invest in long-term projects and help stimulate employment growth.

One of the country’s leading think-tanks has claimed Ireland will have one of the fastest growing economies in Europe this year.

The Central Bank has made its biggest ever upward revision of growth but wants the Government to do "more than the minimum necessary" to bring thebudget deficit comfortably below 3%.

The Central Bank has dramatically revised up its estimates on how well the economic recovery is taking hold.

House prices have risen by nearly 15% in the past year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The interest rate connected to Government debt is expected to decline further before the end of this year, as the country continues to distance itself from periphery eurozone nations.

The Central Bank has delivered its most upbeat assessment of the economy in six years as robust exports and improving domestic demand prompt upward revisions to growth for 2014 and 2015.

Charities in hot water over their failure to disclose financial details should follow the example of Irish Aid when it comes to transparency, the minister in charge of the programme has said.

The parties and independent candidates that campaigned on anti-austerity agendas and made gains in the local and European elections could do enormous damage to the economy if they repeated this success at the general election in two years, according to economist Jim Power.

GNP data for 2013 showed the economy performed strongly last year, with growth of 3.4%.

Cabinet ministers have signalled tax cuts in the budget while pledging that a €200m black hole in the health budget will not hit essential services.

In its quarterly economic commentary published today, the Economic and Social Research Institute predicts economic growth should remain strong in this country for the remainder of this year and throughout 2015.

Ireland is a small and very open economy.

The data used to support the claim that US multinationals operating in Ireland pay an effective tax rate of 2.2% is flawed, according to a leading economist.

Export performance should pick up again this year despite a largely flat performance in 2013, with the domestic economy also in line for a more pronounced recovery.

The Central Bank has delivered its most upbeat assessment of the economy since the economy crashed in 2008 in its latest quarterly bulletin.

First the good news: Ireland’s economy is forecast to experience a resurgence in 2014, its first full year after emerging from the bailout, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, the nation’s leading think-tank.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says Ireland's economy has now turned the corner - and it predicts the recovery will speed up significantly next year.

Post-bailout Ireland faces a raft of challenges, including a mortgage crisis, a lack of lending for businesses, health cuts and patchy support for the unemployed.

Tallyrand, the great French statesman and survivor, declared on its restoration that the House of Bourbon “had forgotten nothing and learned nothing”.

The growth in GDP has slowed considerably from the 2.2% recorded in 2011. Most forecasts are for Irish GDP to grow by 0.0% to 0.5% this year, after expanding by just 0.2% in 2012.

The Central Bank has cut growth forecasts for the economy as exports suffer on weak international demand.

The Central Bank is sticking to its view that the economy will recover gradually, although it has revised down its growth outlook, according to its Quarterly Economic Update.

IT’S time, finally, for some honesty.

Wage levels are still too high in Ireland across the public and private sectors relative to competitor countries, according to the Central Bank’s latest quarterly review of the Irish economy.

The Central Bank has today revised down its expectations for economic growth for both this year and next.

There still has to be a significant cut to public expenditure, which may have to include further job losses across the public sector even if the Government is successful in securing a deal on the bank debt, according to the ESRI Quarterly Economic Commentary.

The battle lines between France and Germany were last night threatening to scupper an outline for fiscal, banking, and political union in return for joint responsibility for debt that is aimed at restoring some market confidence in the eurozone.

TOMORROW, the nation goes to the polls to decide the fate of the Fiscal Treaty and, whatever the result, at least we can imminently look forward to the end of one of the most unedifying political campaigns in recent memory.

Not allowing temporary or permanent bailout funds to directly recapitalise banks directly is a “missed opportunity”, Patrick Honohan, the governor of the Central Bank has said.

The Taoiseach has said that growth in Ireland will still be one of the best in Europe this year - despite a cut in forecasts.

The Central Bank has said that it sees no reason for an emergency ‘mini-budget’ to increase Government savings this year, despite the economy growing at a slower than expected rate.

TALK about a second programme or bailout for Ireland is not helpful, the European Commission has said following media speculation about the issue.