Growth in 2000 could exceed the 1997 growth rate.
Available indicators point to very strong domestic and external demand for Irish goods and services.
The continued strength of the economy, which is now accompanied by high inflation, has raised fears that we could experience a hard landing. The strength of the Irish economy has been sustained by very accommodative monetary conditions. The weakness of the euro and the relatively low level of interest rates, which are negative in real terms by Irish standards, have produced very easy monetary conditions in Ireland. Some tightening of the eurozone's monetary position is envisaged in 2001. This may not occur without some setbacks for the euro over the next year.