Boom or bust? - Mixed messages on economy

THE burning question as to whether Ireland’s buoyant economy can continue to soar, or whether it is flying perilously on ‘one wing’ perplexes the average person and divides economists.

As gurus gazed into the future through multi-coloured crystal balls yesterday, the old adage that doctors differ and patients die sprang to mind.

On one side of the argument, NCB, one of the country’s biggest stockbrokers, foresees the unrelenting boom continuing for the next 15 years.