The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D., and the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. Angel Gurría, launched this morning the OECD Economic Survey of Ireland 2013 (“the Survey”), a detailed assessment of Ireland’s economic performance and prospects. The Survey also puts forward 12 key recommendations to Ireland.
The Tánaiste said:
“This Survey examines many of the most important political and economic challenges facing this country. Its recommendations come under four headings – Rebalancing the Economy, Reinvigorating Growth, Pathways to Jobs, Boosting Innovation –and address difficult issues which we as a country are grappling with right now.
“Ireland is in a very different place compared to two years ago, when the last OECD Economic Survey was issued. Since then, we have taken and implemented difficult decisions – the results of which are becoming increasingly clear. We achieved a second successive year of growth in 2012. There are at last some positive signs on the labour market. And we will exit, successfully, from our EU/IMF programme later this year. Significant challenges certainly remain, but Ireland is emerging from the crisis.
“The Government needs the best possible analysis as we move into the next phase of our recovery. For this reason, today’s report is particularly timely and welcome. The OECD’s analytical capabilities are universally seen as second-to-none, and this year’s exercise is of particular interest in setting the scene for economic recovery and post-troika programme policy priorities. Of course, this Government will make our own assessments, choices and decisions – as we are mandated to do –but valuable input such as this OECD Survey can only improve the quality of our decision- making.
“I am also pleased that work with the OECD on tacking Ireland’s Youth Employment problem is agreed, and we expect to have the organisation’s expert analysis and recommendations in hand by the end of November. This particular issue is of fundamental political importance to the Government. It was a key priority of our EU Presidency, and it remains so.”
Note for Editors.
OECD economic surveys of member countries take place every two years. For Ireland they are crucial milestones, followed closely both at home and internationally.
The last Economic Survey on Ireland was published in October 2011.
OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria had travelled to Dublin for the launch of the previous Survey in 2009.
Ireland was among the founding members of the OECD in 1961. For a small country the advantages of membership of such a focussed professional international organisation (it has 34 members) are large. It provides access to the highest quality analysis and policy prescriptions and the opportunity to contribute along with larger economies into shaping the economic policy environment internationally.