Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis

Context Phase

3:30 am

Mr. Rob Wright:

I think it could be managed to ensure a strong economic future for Ireland. On whether it is there today, I am very cautious about terms and terminology. That is not the mandate of this analysis. Ireland is focused on the right thing, namely an engagement with the European Union. It will strengthen Ireland's capacity to gauge these risks. There is scope for an active policy agenda that deals with potential overheating and issues like that. That is what it has to be ready to do. It will be a challenge to manage the expectations of what it can deliver within that framework. It is the challenge of any monetary union. It is a challenge in Canada for one region of our vast country which has very different bases. Often the monetary policy for the country as a whole is very challenging for particular areas. The management of that has to be considered. I will not say it is not positive for Ireland.