Strong Irish GDP growth

Ireland should experience good GDP growth in the next two years:

Consulting group PricewaterhouseCoopers says it expects Ireland's economic growth rate to be almost three times the euro zone average this year.

Its European Economic Outlook predicts that Ireland's gross domestic product will expand by 5%, compared with an average 1.75% in the euro zone.

PwC says export growth should accelerate this year, while wage growth will remain 'rapid' as skilled labour shortages become more acute.

For 2006, PwC forecasts Irish GDP growth of 4.75%, blaming the slight slowdown on an erosion of competitiveness which may dampen export growth.