Vol. 496 No. 6
285 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the way in which Ireland will be positioned in 1999 in the league of EU member states in view of current economic indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23887/98]
The latest economic forecasts from the EU Commission suggest that Ireland's GDP will grow by 8.2 per cent in 1999, while the OECD foresees growth of the order of 6.7 per cent next year. If either forecast proves accurate, Ireland would seem likely to again achieve the highest rate of growth among EU member states. While these assessments indicate a view that we are well placed to take advantage of the benefits of economic and monetary union, we are not complacent. We are aware of the need to maintain the competitiveness of the economy in all its aspects, in order to build on the impressive economic and employment growth of recent years.
