Growth is the new mantra as gloom intensifies

On a gloomy note and under dreary skies, the bailout troika packed their briefcases and left Ireland after the halfway review of the bailout programme.

They left behind important messages about how the economy is likely to develop and the country’s chances of getting out of the bailout programme and regaining our much-lamented economic sovereignty.

The first message is that two undependable factors are needed to get back on track: Improved performance by trading partners to increase exports and the stabilisation of domestic activity.