Employment rate - Figures are encouraging

The unemployment rate fell again in December for the 18th consecutive month, down to 12.4% from 12.5% the previous month, as 3,300 fewer people signed on the live register.

The rate is now at its lowest since May 2009, and is a major improvement on the peak of 15.1% reached in Feb 2012.

It shows that Ireland is approaching the average unemployment rate in the eurozone, which stands at 12.1%. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.2%), and Luxembourg (6.1%), and the highest in Greece (27.4% in Sept 2013) and Spain (26.7%).