‘Ireland will sky-rocket if global economy improves’

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has predicted Ireland will sky-rocket if the global economy improves.

The minister defended the Government’s austerity measures, saying Ireland has been forced to become more competitive on a worldwide scale as a result.

“We have become so competitive in this period of austerity that if the world economy picks up, then Ireland can take off like a rocket,” said Mr Noonan. “We may have very strong growth rates in the next couple of years.”