Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The IMF report is a global report and points out one of the few bright spots in global performance has been that of Ireland.

Our growth rate was 1.4% and it is expected to go beyond that next year. Clearly there are challenging economic circumstances internationally in terms of the superpowers of the United States and China and many other countries and we are well aware of it. For the Government's part, we have agreed a position with the troika, which funds the country, to set out on a programme, which we have renegotiated in part for very good reasons, and to adhere to that programme. Since the people in Ireland made their decision so clearly in respect of the fiscal stability treaty, the National Treasury Management Agency was able to go back into the bond markets with great interest being expressed in the offerings made at that time.

See this speech in context