Coveney: Ireland coming out of the darkness

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said increased productivity will drive inward investment to Ireland.

The Fine Gael Minister, who has been touring Europe as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities, also stated that Irish people working harder will bring economic recovery to Ireland.

Yesterday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin criticised the Government for appearing to talk up economic growth, urging the Taoiseach to be more cautious in his remarks.

It came after the Taoiseach said that he hopes Ireland will exit the Troika bailout programme by the end of next year.

In addition to that, Finance Minister Michael Noonan also predicted on Friday that the Irish economy will "take off like a rocket" if the world situation improves.

Minister Coveney, who is now in Brussels as part of a government effort to 'sell' Ireland, said: "People are seeing Ireland as the country that is showing the way in terms of a country that made some terrible mistakes and suffered as a result of that but is actually now coming out of the darkness as I think the Taoiseach referred to.

"That's a source obviously of a lot of pride for me."