Mr. Pádraig Dalton:

The focus here is on the economic statistics. As the Deputy said, the most recent set of figures show that our economy on a GDP basis is growing at 6.7% but as we know the GDP figures have an impact. Globalisation impacts those figures. We have now produced a broader range of stations and GNI* is one of those where we net out the impact of globalisation and modify domestic demand, personal consumption and expenditure. When we consider those indicators it is clear that the domestic economy is growing in the order of about 4%, which is consistent with what we are seeing in the labour market.

In terms of the future, as the Deputy will be aware, the CSO does not forecast. We are a little bit boring. We advise what has happened and what the current situation is. Forecasts and predictions of the future rest with the research community and economists so that is not really our bailiwick.

The Deputy mentioned Brexit. Obviously, it is relevant to us, particularly around the collection of statistics and especially trade data. As I presume the Deputy will have heard from previous witnesses, if and when the UK leave the European Union the collection of trade data will move from what is called Intrastat to Extrastat but we are prepared for that. It will mean a change in the data source but we will still have data to compile the trade data. As for the impact of Brexit, I do not know of anybody who is able to accurately predict what the fallout will be.